Purses at Texas tracks, starting with Sam Houston, will increase dramatically in 2020

Sam Houston has announced significant upgrades to its purse structure for the 39-date meet that opens Jan. 10. The track, which is running seven more dates than last year, races through March 28.

Sam Houston averaged $140,000 a day in purses last meet, but Frank Hopf, senior director of racing operations for the track, projects that figure will rise to $240,000 this meet. Sam Houston will open with maiden special weight races worth $36,000, compared to $20,000 last year. In addition, allowances that started at $21,000 will now start at $37,000. Hopf said $5,000 claiming races that had a purse of $6,250 will now be worth about $11,500.

The increases are due to a new Texas law that calls for a portion of existing taxes on specific horse products and services to be placed in an escrow account that will be capped at $25 million a year. The funds can in part be used for purses. They started accruing Sept. 1. Sam Houston will put on the state’s first meet in 2020.

“I think the most exciting part of this is just the start of rebuilding racing in Texas,” Hopf said. “We’ve got an opportunity from the legislative side of the state. We’re the first ones up to bat and we’re ready to make it work.”

Sam Houston’s $1.75 million stakes schedule will again be led by the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic for fillies and mares at a mile and a sixteenth and the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally for 4-year-olds and up at a mile and a half on turf, both Jan. 26. The card of six stakes worth $950,000 also includes the new $200,000 Texas Turf Mile for 3-year-olds. Texas Champions Day is March 21 and the seven stakes on the card have each been boosted from $50,000 to $75,000.

James Leatherman has been named racing secretary for Sam Houston and also will continue to serve as racing secretary for Retama Park.

Lone Star Park, which opens in April, has entered into an initial agreement with the Grand Prairie, Texas, Sports Facilities and Development Corporation to share in the cost of plant improvements, according to a press release. They include adding video surveillance cameras in all barns, a “Duralock” moveable turf rail, a cooling down area for horses 100 yards past the finish line, and round pens on the backstretch.

“The city of Grand Prairie and Lone Star Park management have a unique and productive partnership,” Ron Jensen, mayor of Grand Prairie, said in the release. “Thanks to the actions of the Texas Legislature this past session, horse racing in Texas is back on an upward trajectory.”