Texas sets 2008 racing dates

The Texas Racing Commission on Thursday approved a 2008 racing calendar for the state that closely mirrors the one in place this year. The panel granted dates for both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meets.

Lone Star Park near Dallas will open a 65-date Thoroughbred meet on April 10 to run through July 27. Lone Star will race on a Thursday through Sunday schedule, with the lone exception being a Monday card on Memorial Day, May 26.

Retama Park near San Antonio pushed its Thoroughbred meet back five weeks this year to September, and it will follow that protocol next year. The track will run 35 dates for Thoroughbreds from Sept. 5 through Nov. 22.

Sam Houston Race Park in Houston was granted 62 dates of Thoroughbred racing for 2008. The winter-spring dates will run from Jan. 4 to April 5 as part of a meet that is to open Nov. 23, 2007. Next year, Sam Houston will open on Nov. 28.

Lone Star will conduct a 31-night Quarter Horse meet from Sept. 26 to Nov. 29. Sam Houston's meet for Quarter Horses will run from June 26 through Sept. 6. The Retama season for Quarter Horses is April 25 to June 21.