Sam Houston handles record $5.3 million on Houston Racing Festival program

Sam Houston Race Park handled more than $5.3 million on its 10-race Houston Racing Festival program Sunday, which was an all-time handle record for the track that opened in 1994.

The program featured six stakes, including the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic won by Letruska.

Sam Houston’s previous record handle of $5,083.692 was set on the Great State Challenge card on Dec. 7, 2002. Last year, handle on the Houston Racing Festival card was $3.2 million.

“We are thrilled with the success of this year’s Houston Racing Festival and setting a record handle of $5.3 million,” Frank Hopf, senior director of racing for Sam Houston, said in a press release. “It was a team effort from everyone at Sam Houston, and our thanks go out to all the horsemen and owners for supporting our meet. This would not be possible without our horseplayers, both here in Texas and nationally.”

Sam Houston on Sunday handled $5,342,599 on its live races from all sources, with $5,010,542 of that amount bet by offtrack patrons.

The figures for Sunday and past cards were provided by officials from Sam Houston.