SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK
WEEKLY RACING & EVENTS NOTES 

Happy New Year from Sam Houston Race Park!  We look forward to a new year of exciting live racing and fantastic entertainment events and will provide the latest news from our facility to you in 2008 with our weekly notes.  If you have any questions or are interested in more details regarding any of the highlights listed, please do not hesitate to contact Gina Rotolo at 281-807-8771.  Thank you for your continued support of Sam Houston Race Park.

Eric Johnston Named Vice President of Racing

Sam Houston Race Park announces the promotion of Eric Johnston to Vice President of Racing.  Johnston, who previously served as the Director of Racing, will manage mutuels, simulcasting and player’s services operations for The Park and unite them with the racing department, which he will continue to direct.  He will assume his new role effective immediately.

            “I look forward to the opportunity to unite all racing efforts and operations in my new role at Sam Houston Race Park,” said Johnston.  “Streamlining these departments in order to facilitate growth of our racing operations and increase The Park’s presence in the racing industry as well as to the public is a priority for me; I look forward to the challenges and opportunities this will provide.”

            Johnston’s focus will include upgrading racing products through improved customer service for all Sam Houston Race Park customers, manage industry relations with owners, trainers and breeders, and continue to attract national attention for the organization with marquee annual events like the Connally Breeder’s Cup Turf Festival, Texas Champions Day and the Summer Showdown. 

            Johnston has worked at The Park since 1994, and provided valuable racing insight and direction on matters ranging from compiling stakes schedules and writing condition books to filling races with daily entries for both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meets.  He was directly responsible for bringing the Grade 3 Connally Breeders’ Cup Turf Festival to The Park in 1995, and continues to work with the racing and executive staff in the on-going development of the event each year.  Johnston also works closely with the breeder’s associations to develop Thoroughbred programs such as the TQHA Yearling Sale, the Summer Showdown and the annual Texas Champions Day racing event.

            “Eric Johnston is a vital part of the growth and development of our organization,” stated Andrea Young, Chief Operating Officer.  “I greatly value his contributions to our racing department as well as his dedication and drive to positively impact our horse racing business.”

            Johnston’s career in racing includes tenures at notable racing establishments Penn National, Laurel and Pimlico prior to joining The Park.  He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Houston Equine Research Organization (HERO) and AQHA Racing Committee in addition to his professional duties.   

New Year’s Eve Recap

Sam Houston Race Park held the Inaugural New Year’s Eve Zoom & Boom Celebration on Monday, December 31, 2007.  The event, which invited guests to “come-as-you-are” with boots and jeans casual attire, or in their favorite party dress, for a night of thrilling Thoroughbred horse racing featuring 10 races including the Auld Lang Syne Allowance race, live entertainment featuring dance music from the 70s, 80s and more, great dining packages and the largest firework displays in town, yielded more than 6,100 guests and the 5^th largest handle of the Thoroughbred season and the 2^nd largest handle of the current Thoroughbred meet. 

Auld Lang Syne Allowance Race Results from Saturday, December 31, 2007

Seven-year old Gelding Nuttyboom ($7.60) and jockey Jorge Guzman took top honors in the inaugural Auld Lang Syne $22,000 Allowance race at Sam Houston Race Park on Monday, December 31, 2007. 

            He beat out favored horse Crosstown, who finished in sixth place, and second place horse Probation Ready on the six furlong course by one furlong with a winning time 1:09:87.  The horse is owned by Carey Noteboom and trained by Ralph R. Irwin.  Nuttyboom claimed a total win of $13,200 from the allowance race.

            “This horse has had a rough time racing up until now,” stated trainer Ralph Irwin.  “Following the Retama win from September, this was his fastest course time.  The shorter distances like tonight’s race are better for him.”

            Jockey Guzman remarked that the win was due to the work Irwin has done with the horse lately.  He also added that he felt good about their chances for the win from the time they got into the starting gate and took off down the course.  When asked about tonight’s win and his current standing as the top jockey for the Thoroughbred meet, Guzman simply replied, “I just keep getting lucky!”

            Guzman continues to hold the top position with 146 starts, 25 first place wins and a win percentage of 17% to date.

            The Auld Lang Syne Allowance was open to horses age 3 and up.  The race was part of the evening’s Inaugural Zoom & Boom New Year’s Eve Celebration which included a card of 10 Thoroughbred races, live entertainment and a fireworks display to ring in the New Year.  Final placement for the allowance race was Nuttyboom in first, Probation Ready in second and third place for Snuck By.  The field included a total of 7 horses.

Nuttyboom claims inaugural Auld Lang Syne $22,000 Allowance at Sam Houston Race Park on
Saturday, December 31, 2007

MAXXAM Gold Cup @ The Park Saturday, January 26

$100,000 MAXXAM Gold Cup, in its 15^th running, has a rich history and is one of the most prestigious races and social events of the Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred meeting.  The evening will include 10 thrilling races, including the $100,000 MAXXAM Gold Cup and the $50,000 Sam Houston Distaff races, online handicapping contest and more!  Reserve your space today for private parties or suite rentals.  For more information, visit www.shrp.com.

Live Thoroughbred racing continues with races every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in January at Sam Houston Race Park.  The Thoroughbred meet will conclude on Saturday, April 5, 2008.  For more information, please visit www.shrp.com.

Jockey, Trainer and Owner Standings

 

Live Thoroughbred racing will continue in January every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.  The 2007/2008 Thoroughbred meeting will continue though Saturday, April 5, 2008. 

A complete list of racing dates and stakes is available on the Sam Houston Race Park web site, shrp.com. Horsemen can obtain the first condition book by calling the racing office at 1-800-807-RACE or online on the Sam Houston Race Park web site at www.shrp.com. 

Simulcasting This Weekend at The Park

Thursday, January 3

• Gulfstream Park Opening Day

Friday, January 4

• Gulfstream Park will present Grade 3 $100,000 Canadian Turf Handicap

Saturday, January 5

• Gulfstream Park will host Grade 2 $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes Grade 3 $100,000 Mr. Prospector Handicap
• Santa Anita will showcase the Grade 2 $150,000 San Pasqual Handicap and Grade 3 $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes

Sunday, January 6

• Gulfstream Park will host the Grade 3 $100,000 Sabin Handicap and the Grade 3 $100,000 Hal's Hope Handicap
• Santa Anita will present the Grade 3 $150,000 San Gorgonio Handicap Sunland Park will host the $100,000 Albert Dominguez Memorial Handicap

For a complete list of simulcast tracks and post times visit www.shrp.com or by call (281) 807-8740.

UPCOMING EVENTS AT SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK

4th Annual Houston’s Best Country Singer Contest Returns January 4, 2008

            Sam Houston Race Park will host the Fourth Annual Houston’s Best Country Singer Contest beginning Friday, January 4, 2008, at 7 p.m. The eight week vocal competition, held every Friday through February 15, 2008, will feature performance opportunities for juniors (ages 8-15) and adults (ages 16 and up). Contestants will perform a song of their choice with scoring based on vocal performance, audience response and stage presence. Contestants will compete in semi-final rounds with four finalists from each division advancing to the finals held on February 22, 2008. Grand prizes include: a trip for two to Playa del Carmen, Mexico, to open for Johnny Lee courtesy of FunJet, $500 and recording studio time for juniors; and adult division winners will compete for a trip for two to the Country Music Awards courtesy of 93Q, $1,000 and recording studio time. The entry fee is $30 per contestant. Ticket packages to watch the competition start at $9 per person and include admission, reserved seating for live racing and racing program. For more contest information, email showcasesinger@comcast.net. For ticket information, visit www.shrp.com or call 281.807.8760.

VIP Club Specials Offered at The Park

Space City Blastoff!
Fans will have a weekly chance to win $500 in the “Space City Blastoff!” contest.  Each week in January, players must select a horse to place 1st – 4th on Monday, 1st – 3rd on Tuesday, 1st – 2nd on Wednesday, and 1st on Thursday in designated simulcast races chosen by SHRP.  On Friday, remaining entrants must choose a winner in a designated SHRP live race.  The contest winner is determined by who selects the highest-priced winner on Friday.

Showvivor Thursdays
The $100 Showvivor handicapping contest is a one day elimination contest where contestants will select one horse per race on Gulfstream races that must “hit the board”.

MAXXAM Gold Cup Instant Winner Jackpot Drawing – January 26, 2008
Three player’s rewards members will win 20,000 reward points the night of the MAXXAM Gold Cup.  To enter, players must use their membership card and wager on any SHRP live race prior to the running of the 7th race.  No minimum required.

Dining Triple Points – all month long! 
Player’s rewards members who dine in the Winner’s Circle Restaurant or Jockey Club will receive 3 points per dollar spent on food & beverage.  Player must present membership card to their server to receive points.  

Sam Houston Race Park provides great offers and benefits for our VIP Club members.  All contest rules can be found on www.shrp.com. To become a VIP Club member, visit the Players Lounge located at the North end of the Grandstand on the Paddock Level.  For more information about the VIP Club visit the Players Lounge or call 281-807-8278.