Sam Houston creates $400,000 stakes for fillies and mares

Sam Houston Race Park has announced a revamped stakes schedule in 2013 which

will include the richest Thoroughbred race in Texas and in track history. The

$400,000 Houston Ladies' Classic is set for January 26 as part of a special

stakes-filled card including the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup. In

total, the meet will feature 23 stakes races including four new stakes for

Texas-breds paying more than $1.7 million in purses.

The $400,000 Houston Ladies' Classic, for fillies and mares four-years-old

and up, will be contested at a distance of 1 1/16 miles over the main track.

"Fillies and mares have been the superstars of the racing industry for the

last three years," said Andréa Young, Sam Houston president. "We are proud to

bring Houston and Texas its richest race and we look forward to the Houston

Ladies' Classic anchoring an unprecedented day in Texas Thoroughbred racing."

In addition to thee Houston Ladies' Classic and John B. Connally Turf Cup,

which is for for four-year-olds and up at nine furlongs, the January 26 card

also features the $75,000 Champion Energy Services for four-year-olds and upward

at five furlongs on the turf and the $50,000 Allen's Landing for three-year-olds

at six furlongs

In celebration of this historic day of racing, Sam Houston will offer owners

an added incentive: the all new Ship Assist Program. The program was created to

encourage owners shipping a horse for the Houston Ladies' Classic to also

consider shipping horses for the Connally Turf Cup, Champion Energy Services and

Allen's Landing. For any owner starting a filly or mare in the Houston Ladies'

Classic and at least one additional horse in one of the accompanying stakes

races, Sam Houston will waive the owner's original pre-entry fee or $2,000 of

the $10,000 supplemental nomination fee.

"We understand the financial considerations owners have to make every day so

we are pleased to provide special assistance for this exceptional day of racing

in Texas," said Eric Johnston, Sam Houston's vice president of racing.

Promotions for the January 26 racing festival will be plentiful, including a

fund raising event to benefit for the Houston affiliate of the Susan G. Komen

For the Cure. Sam Houston will donate $1 for each guest attending on January 26.

Nominations for the Houston Ladies' Classic will close on December 28, 2012.

To nominate or for additional information, please contact the Sam Houston racing

office at 1-800-807-7223.

Sam Houston Race Park's 20th season is a 30-day meet beginning January 18.

Sam Houston is currently awaiting approval from the Texas Racing Commission to

extend the meet by four additional days for a total of 34 days of Thoroughbred

racing ending on March 17.

The meet will host approximately 10 live races each Friday, Saturday, Sunday

and Monday and each Saturday will culminate with a stakes race featuring purses

of $50,000 or more. The stakes program also includes Texas Champions Weekend,

with $400,000 in stakes purses for Texas-breds, and the $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup

on March 2.

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