HOUSTON, TX- The Houston Racing Festival is set for Saturday, January 25 at Sam Houston Race Park with ten races beginning at 1:00 pm (CT). Five stakes will  be contested, highlighted by the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic, presented by PENN Women and the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup.
 
The second turf stakes, the $100,000 Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile is named in honor of Robert L. Bork, former Sam Houston Race Park president. The one-mile turf feature for 3 year-olds honors the heralded  president and general manager who made a tremendous impact on the racing industry, nationally and in Houston. Bork passed away on June 11, 2021, at the age of 83.
 
Last year trainer Rob Atras won the stakes with Neat owned  by Red White and Blue Racing LLC. The son of Constitution went on to capture three graded stakes, including the Grade 2, National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes on August 2 at Saratoga. Neat completed his 3-year campaign with a record of six wins from 11 starts and $914,130.
 
Atras returns on Saturday with another promising colt, Chasing Liberty, owned and bred by Twin Creeks Racing Stables. Also sired by Constitution out of the Declaration of War mare, Peaceful, who comes into the Bob Bork Mile with three wins, after completing his 2024 season at Del Mar with a victory in the $200,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes. He defeated 13 rivals in the one-mile turf contest. 
 
“His win at Del Mar had Rob thinking that this colt has similar talent to Neat and that Bob Bork Turf Mile might be a good start for his 3-year-old campaign,” said Randy Gullatt, Twin Creeks Racing Manager. “We gave him some time off and Rob has overseen a series of works at Fair Grounds (beginning on November 30). We feel that he is 100% prepared for his return on Saturday.”
 
Atras has been dividing his time between New York and Fair Grounds and would have liked to get one more work into Chasing Liberty, but a winter storm in New Orleans forced cancelation of training this week.
 
“This is a big, heavy colt who requires a lot of training; certainly more than Neat,” Atras shared. “We had such a good experience last year at Sam Houston and hope that Chasing Liberty will continue in Neat’s footsteps.”
 
Top New York based rider Manny Franco is flying in to ride Chasing Liberty (installed as the even-money favorite) as well as Alpine Princess (for trainer Brad Cox) in the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic. 
 
Brittany Russell will run for the first time at Sam Houston Race Park, sending in Curahee, a Kentucky-bred son of War of Will. Owned by DAARS, Inc., this will be the seventh career start for the dark bay gelding, who won a stakes last summer at Colonial Downs and exits a victory at Fair Grounds on December 26. 
 
“That race came off the turf,” explained Russell, who will give the mount to Ben Curtis. “Curahee is 100% a turf horse and has a versatile running style. He can sit in the pocket but will probably be forwardly placed in the Bork.”
 
Trainer Danny Pish who won the first running of the Bob Bork Texas Turf in 2020 with Bodecream. He has two entrants in this year’s edition:  Brooklyn Alley Cat, who he co-owns with Jay Hester and Duffy's Racing Stable LLC, Heider Racing Stables LLC and Childers Premier Horses LLC’s Trevaggio.
 
“Brooklyn Alley Cat has always been solid with his physical talent, but has improved through training and campaigning,” explained Pish. “Trevaggio will make his first start as a gelding, and we are hoping that will make a difference. He has turf pedigree on the top and bottom; we are looking forward to running both.”
 
Pish knew Bork well in his tenure at Sam Houston Race Park and admired his leadership.
 
"Winning a stakes race is always special, but without question, knowing and respecting the race’s namesake takes on another meaning,” added Pish. “Bob opened his door to the track’s horsemen and would always try to see our point of view.”
 
The $100,000 Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile Turf Cup will run as the seventh race on the Houston Racing Festival program, with an estimated post time of 4:00 pm (Central). The field, from the rail, with trainers,  riders and morning-line odds: 
1.         My Wife is Right (Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez) Ronnie Cravens, III; 15-1
2.         Chasing Liberty (Manny Franco) Rob Atras; Even
3.         Gold Front (Lindey Wade)  Terry Eoff; 20-1
4.         Perry County (DeShawn Parker)  Veronica Litfin; 6-1
5.         Roustabout Stewart Elliott)) Steve Asmussen; 10-1
6.         Curahee (Ben Curtis) Brittany Russell; 7-2
7.         Brooklyn Alley Cat (Iram Diego) Danny Pish; 15-1
8.         Trevaggio (Rene Diaz) Danny Pish; 20-1
9.         Gunny Highway (Isaiah Wiseman) Ronnie Cravens, III; 30-1
 
Members of the Bork family will present the trophy following the running of the Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile. 

Houston Racing Festival News and Notes
Winter Weather Update
Training was delayed on Wednesday, but by live racing on Friday,  January 24, temperatures will warm to the mid-50’s and the forecast for Saturday’s Houston Racing Festival will warm up to the low 60’s.

Sam Houston Live Racing Signal Will be Live on Website on Saturday, January 25
Racing fans unable to come out to the races will have the opportunity to watch the entire Houston Racing Festival card streamed on shrp.com. 

Four Seats Up for Grabs in the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) Contest 
The Houston Racing Festival National Horseplayers Championship will take place Saturday, January 25 at Sam Houston Race Park. Registration is open for the contest with a $1,500 Bankroll Live Money format on the January 25 Sam Houston card and Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park. Four seats to the prestigious National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas will be awarded, with the winner’s choice to compete in the 2025 NHC Contest, or the 2026 final. For rules and additional information, click here.
 
Texas Style Hat Contest
Houston Racing Festival’s second annual Texas Style Hat Contest returns on Saturday, January 25th with a first-place prize of $500. The second-place prize will be a Winner’s Circle Restaurant certificate for four and third place will be a Winner’s Circle restaurant certificate for two.
 
Jockey Meet and Greet and Silent Auction Benefitting the PDJF
Meet the jockeys riding in the Houston Racing Festival in an autograph session at Noon. Fans can bid on silent auction collector’s items and much more! The event will benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) which provides financial assistance to former jockeys who have suffered catastrophic on-track injuries.

About Sam Houston Race Park
Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles northwest of downtown Houston. Owned by Penn Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ – PENN), the racetrack, which opened in 1994, offers a variety of attractions for businesses, group outings and families during racing and the off-season. The track is best known for its award-winning dining and features multiple areas for fans looking for casual to upscale dining options including its Winner’s Circle Restaurant, Jockey Club, Luxury Suites and Pavilion Centre. For more information or tickets to upcoming live racing, concerts and events, please visit www.shrp.com or follow on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok or YouTube.  

 
Photos:  Jack Coady Photography