With Retama repairing storm damage, Quarter Horse meet is transferred to Sam Houston
The Texas Racing Commission on Tuesday approved the transfer of Retama Park’s meet for Quarter Horses to Sam Houston Race Park, according to an announcement by Sam Houston.
The 20-date meet will begin June 23 and continue through Aug. 7. Post time will be 6:45 p.m. Central.
The transfer was made because of damage Retama Park near San Antonio sustained to its grandstand, barn area, and racing office in a February ice storm, according to a press release from Sam Houston. The facility is undergoing repairs, by they will not be completed in time to conduct a meet.
Purses for overnight races are scheduled to average $220,000 a program, with the funds a combination of those transferred from Retama and added to by Sam Houston. The stakes schedule will be announced at a later date, and it will include the TQHA Sale Futurity.
Stall applications are due Friday.
The calendar for the meet has been adjusted to flow with the summer mixed meet at the Gillespie County Fair in Fredericksburg, Texas.
“Our goal was to schedule the 20 race dates to accommodate Texas horsemen who are running in Fredericksburg and those attending the annual TQHA yearling sale,” Dwight Berube, vice president and general manager of Sam Houston, said in the press release. “While we recognize that change in venues will not be easy for all parties, we acted in the best interest of Texas racing.”
Sam Houston is currently conducting its annual meet for Quarter Horses.
Retama Park had been scheduled to run only a Quarter Horse meet this year after its 2021 Thoroughbred dates were previously transferred to Sam Houston and Lone Star Park near Dallas.