2005 Texas dates granted

Lone Star Park near Dallas will return to a single Thoroughbred meet format next year after holding two meets this year to accommodate its hosting of the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships on Oct. 30.

Dates for 2005 were awarded during a Texas Racing Commission meeting on Thursday. The calendar mirrors the one used by the state's tracks in 2003.

Lone Star was awarded 70 dates for Thoroughbreds from April 13 to July 17. The track also received a 33-date meet for Quarter Horses from Sept. 30 to Nov. 27.

Sam Houston will run two meets for Thoroughbreds next year. A 50-date meet will begin on Jan. 7 and continue through April 10. A second meet will run 34 days from Oct. 26 to Dec. 23.

Sam Houston's annual Quarter Horse meet will run 38 days from June 24 to Sept. 11.

Retama Park near San Antonio will run a 43-date Thoroughbred meet from Aug. 5 to Oct. 15. It will be preceded by a 24-date Quarter Horse meet from April 29 to June 19.

Manor Downs in Austin was awarded an 18-dates for Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses next year from Feb. 26 through April 24.

o In other business, the commission approved a special wager for the International Jockey Championship, which will be held at Lone Star in October to coincide with the Breeders' Cup.

Also, the panel tabled Austin Jockey Club's request for approval of a change in location of the yet to be constructed track.

In other business, the commission voted to open an application period for racetrack license applications from Hidalgo County, near the southern tip of Texas, beginning April 1. The request was made by Joe V. LaMantia Jr.