Retama Park seeks to change meet schedule

Retama Park near San Antonio is seeking to make changes to its Thoroughbred meet that would ultimately extend the current season to Nov. 5. The track has asked to drop four Thursdays beginning Sept. 22, but add six dates – all Fridays or Saturdays – beyond the original closing date of Oct. 15. The request will be heard at a Texas Racing Commission meeting Sept. 21.

Bryan Brown, chief executive officer of Retama, said the reason for the request is two-fold. It will help the track, which raced two days a week last meet, make the most of its smaller horse population. Brown said the change also would lessen the downtime for Thoroughbred racing in Texas as the next meet is not until January at Sam Houston.

Brown said Retama has submitted an amended dates request for 2012. He said the track is now seeking a 20-date Quarter Horse meet from June to August and a 26-date Thoroughbred meet that would open Oct. 5 and run through Dec. 29. Dates for 2012 also are scheduled to be considered by the commission Sept. 21.