Lone Star Handicap highlight of stakes schedule

The Grade 3, $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap will again anchor Lone Star Park’s stakes schedule and serve as the middle leg of the Global Gaming Triple that was introduced last meet. In all, the Dallas area track will run 11 stakes worth $1.1 million during the 50-date meet that opens April 11. The season runs through July 7.

The Lone Star Handicap, for 3-year-olds and up at a mile and a sixteenth May 27, is the richest race of the season. It is also part of an owner-trainer bonus tied to the Grade 3, $200,000 Texas Mile at Lone Star on April 27 and the Governor’s Cup at Lone Star’s sister track, Remington Park, in August.

The horse that accumulates the most points based on finishes in the series will earn a bonus to be split equally between his owner and trainer. The amount of this year’s bonus is still being determined, but last year it was worth $20,000. A horse must start in all three races to be eligible.

Other stakes highlights include the $300,000 Stars of Texas Day program July 6, which will have four restricted stakes, including a pair of $100,000-estimated divisions of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity.

Purses are projected to average about $140,000 a card, the same as 2012. Stall applications are due
Feb. 27. Lone Star director of racing Bart Lang will be visiting horsemen at Fair Grounds, Oaklawn, Sam Houston, and Turf Paradise over the first two weeks in February.