Owner's last hurrah at Lone Star Park

Lone Star Park near Dallas begins what might be its final meet under the ownership of MI Developments on Friday night, when it puts on a 10-race card for Quarter Horses highlighted by the $25,000 Classic Chevrolet Heartbeat of America Handicap.

The track will race 26 nights through Nov. 13.

Global Gaming has purchased the operating assets of Lone Star from MI Developments for $47 million, and is now awaiting license approvals from the Texas Racing Commission.

The meet that opens Friday is led by the $1 million Texas Classic Futurity on Nov. 13. The 400-yard dash is the richest stakes in the state, and it leads Lone Star’s 14-race stakes schedule worth $2.5 million. Other key events this meet include the Grade 1, $500,000 Dash for Cash Futurity on Oct. 9, and the Grade 1, $100,000 Refrigerator Handicap on Oct. 2.

The Refrigerator could draw Stolis Winner, who would become Quarter Horse racing’s all-time leading earner with a victory in the 440-yard race. He is $28,579 in earnings from breaking the record held by Refrigerator, who won three runnings of the Champion of Champions between 1992 and 1994. Ricky Ramirez, who won the riding title last meet, is back for the new season, as is Trey Wood, who was the leading trainer. Other top barns on hand include those of trainers Heath Taylor and John Buchanan. Paul Jones, who is the nation’s leading Quarter Horse trainer, is also expected to run some horses this meet at Lone Star.

The track will race every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with a nightly post of 6:35 p.m. Central.