Stakes schedule loaded with turf races
Turf is the focus of the Retama Park stakes schedule for 2005, with 10 of the meet's 16 scheduled stakes to be run on the grass. The most prestigious are two $100,000 turf routes for 2-year-olds, the Ketel One El Joven and the M2 Technology La Senorita.
Retama, located near San Antonio, will open for a 43-night Thoroughbred meet on Aug. 5, and run through Oct. 15.
The El Joven, for colts and geldings, and the La Senorita, for fillies, will both be run on Sept. 3. Both races are at one mile on turf, and combined they help make for the second-richest night of racing at Retama.
The richest night will be Oct. 1, when six restricted stakes worth a total of $470,000 will be run on the annual Texas Hall of Fame Day card. Of the stakes, four will be held on turf, the richest among them the $100,000 Texas Hall of Fame, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up who were bred in Texas.
Other turf routes during the meet include the $50,000 Margarita Breeders' Cup for fillies and mares Aug. 6 and the $50,000 Retama Turf Breeders' Cup for 3-year-olds and up Aug. 13. Retama has also brought back two turf stakes for 2005, the $40,000 Jim Bowie for 3-year-olds at 7 1/2 furlongs Aug. 27, and the $40,000 No Le Hace for 3-year-olds and upward at 7 1/2 furlongs Oct. 15.
Purses for the upcoming meet have been increased $4,000 a day over last year, up to a daily average of $94,000. Purses are up mainly because of an increase in handle on incoming simulcasts, said Bryan Brown, Retama's chief executive officer.
2005 Retama Park stakes schedule
| DATE | EVENT | CONDITIONS | DISTANCE | PURSE |
| Fri.,Aug. 5 | J.R. Straus Memorial | 3YO & up | 6 furlongs | $40,000 |
| Sat.,Aug. 6 | Margarita Breeders' Cup | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Aug. 13 | Retama Turf Breeders' Cup | 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Aug. 20 | Lakeway Stakes | 3YO F | 6 furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sat.,Aug. 27 | Jim Bowie Stakes | 3YO | 7 1/2 furlongs (T) | 40,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 3 | Ketel One El Joven Stakes | 2YO c&g | 1 mile (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 3 | M2 Technology La Senorita Stakes | 2YO F | 1 mile (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 10 | Chick Lang Jr. Memorial | 3YO & Up | 1 mile | 40,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 17 | New Braunfels Stakes | F&M, 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 1 | Texas Stallion Stakes | 2YO c&g | 6 furlongs | 125,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 1 | Texas Stallion Stakes | 2YO F | 6 furlongs | 125,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 1 | Fiesta Mile | F&M, 3YO & Up* | 1 mile (T) | 40,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 1 | Selma Stakes | 3YO F* | 5 furlongs (T) | 40,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 1 | Red McCombs Stakes | 3YO c&g* | 5 furlongs (T) | 40,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 1 | Texas Horse Racing | Hall of Fame3YO & Up* | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 15 | No Le Hace Stakes | 3YO & Up | 7 1/2 furlongs (T) | 40,000 |
* Texas-breds