Sam Houston Adds Stakes for 2021 Thoroughbred Meet
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Photo: Coady Photography
Lady Apple wins the Houston Ladies Classic at Sam Houston Race Park
Sam Houston Race Park will offer an expanded stakes schedule for its lengthened 46-day Thoroughbred season that begins Jan. 8. Three new $75,000 stakes join the track's schedule, featuring $2.4 million in purses, up from $1.8 million in 2020.
The Houston Racing Festival will take place Jan. 31, headlined by the Houston Ladies Classic (G3) and the John B. Connally Turf Cup (G3T).
Inaugurated in 2013, the Houston Ladies Classic was formed to serve as the marquee racing event for Sam Houston's Thoroughbred meet. Now in its ninth running, the 1 1/16-mile Houston Ladies Classic anchors the Houston Racing Festival, which also includes the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup, the $100,000 Frontier Utilities Turf Sprint Stakes, the $75,000 Jersey Lilly Turf Stakes, and $75,000 Stonerside Sprint Stakes. The $200,000 Texas Turf Mile for 3-year-olds was added last year.
Opportunities for Texas-breds are plentiful with 14 Texas-bred stakes during the Sam Houston season. Additionally, all seven stakes races on Texas Champions Day have been increased from $75,000 to $100,000.
"We have worked closely with the Texas Thoroughbred Association and are pleased with the increases for our Texas-bred stakes in 2021," said Frank Hopf, Sam Houston Race Park's Senior director of racing operations. "Heading into 2021, we want to build on the positive strides made prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and take a lead role in improving racing in Texas."
The track will also host five $30,000 stakes races for Arabians during the Thoroughbred season.
James Leatherman will serve as racing secretary for the Thoroughbred live racing season and 23-day Sam Houston Race Park Quarter Horse meet from April 23-June 12. Stall applications due Nov. 6 before the barn area opens Nov. 28 with raining commencing Dec. 1.
Purses are expected to average approximately $248,000 per day for the Thoroughbred meet. The first condition book is available on Equibase.com and further information about the season can be accessed at Shrp.com.
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| Date | Purse | Race | Conditions | Distance |
| Jan. 30 | $75,000 | My Dandy - Texas Stallion Series Stakes | 3-year-olds | 5 1/2 Furlongs |
| Jan. 30 | $75,000 | Darby’s Daughter - Texas Stallion Series Stakes | 3-year-old fillies | 5 1/2 Furlongs |
| Jan. 31 | $300,000 | Houston Ladies Classic Stakes (G3) | 4-year-olds & up F&M | 1 1/16 Miles |
| Jan. 31 | $200,000 | John B. Connally Turf Stakes (G3T) | 4-year-olds & up | 1 1/2 Miles (T) |
| Jan. 31 | $200,000 | Texas Turf Mile Stakes | 3-year-olds | One Mile (T) |
| Jan. 31 | $100,000 | Frontier Utilities Turf Sprint Stakes | 4-year-olds & up | Five Furlongs (T) |
| Jan. 31 | $75,000 | Jersey Lilly Turf Stakes | 4-year-olds & up F&M | 1 1/16 Miles (T) |
| Jan. 31 | $75,000 | Stonerside Sprint Stakes | 4-year-olds & up | Six Furlongs |
| Feb. 20 | $75,000 | Jim’s Orbit Stakes (Texas-breds) | 3-year-olds | Six Furlongs |
| Feb. 20 | $75,000 | Two Altazano Stakes (Texas-breds) | 3-year-old fillies | Six Furlongs |
| Feb. 20 | $75,000 | H-Town Stakes (Texas-breds) | 4-year-olds & up | Seven Furlongs |
| Feb. 20 | $75,000 | Miss Bluebonnet Turf Stakes (Texas-breds) | 4-year-olds & up F&M | One Mile (T) |
| Feb. 20 | $75,000 | Houston Turf Stakes (Texas-breds) | 4-year-olds & up | 1 1/16 Miles (T) |
| Feb. 27 | $30,000 | Texas Six Shooter (G3) (Arabians) | 4-year-olds & 5-year-olds | Seven Furlongs |
| Feb. 27 | $30,000 | Yellow Rose Stakes (G3) (Arabians) | 4-year-olds & 5-year-olds F&M | Seven Furlongs |
| Feb. 27 | $30,000 | Darley Sprint Stakes (Arabians) | 4-year-olds & up | Seven Furlongs |
| Mar. 19 | $30,000 | Darley Distaff Stakes (Arabians) | 4-year-olds & up F&M | Seven Furlongs |
| Mar. 19 | $30,000 | Darley Sprint Stakes (Arabians) | 4-year-olds & up | Seven Furlongs |
| Mar. 20 | $100,000 | Bara Lass Stakes (Texas-breds) | 3-year-old fillies | Six Furlongs |
| Mar. 20 | $100,000 | Groovy Stakes (Texas-breds) | 3-year-olds | Six Furlongs |
| Mar. 20 | $100,000 | Richard King Stakes (Texas-breds) | 4-year-olds & up | 1 1/8 Miles (T) |
| Mar. 20 | $100,000 | San Jacinto Stakes (Texas-breds) | 4-year-olds & up F&M | 1 1/16 Miles (T) |
| Mar. 20 | $100,000 | Spirit of Texas Stakes (Texas-breds) | 4-year-olds & up | Six Furlongs |
| Mar. 20 | $100,000 | Yellow Rose Stakes (Texas-breds) | 4-year-olds & up F&M | Six Furlongs |
| Mar. 20 | $100,000 | Star of Texas Stakes (Texas-breds) | 4-year-olds & up F&M | One Mile |
| Apr. 3 | $75,000 | Bucharest Stakes (Texas-breds) | 4-year-olds & up | Seven Furlongs |
| Apr. 3 | $75,000 | Miss Houston Turf (Texas-breds) | 4-year-olds & up F&M | One Mile (T) |
| Apr. 3 | $75,000 | Bayou City Stakes (Texas-breds) | 3-year-olds | 1 1/16 Miles (T) |