Sam Houston Announces Second Purse Increase of Season
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Photo: Coady Photography
Horses sprint toward the wire at Sam Houston Race Park
Overnight purses at Sam Houston Race Park will be increased for the second time this season, the track announced March 14. The adjustment will be implemented March 17 and continue through the conclusion of the Thoroughbred meet April 3.
All main track overnight purses will be increased by $6,000 and turf purses will be boosted by $1,000.
The first purse increase was made Feb. 17. Sam Houston noted a handle increase of 40% in the first five weeks of the season, which began Jan. 8, bolstered by a record-setting handle of $5.3 million on its Houston Racing Festival card Jan. 31. Over the last four weeks, horseplayers have supported the four-day live racing schedule with industry-low takeout of 12% on multi-race wagers.
One additional race day has been added to the meet. The Texas Racing Commission approved Sam Houston's request to add Wednesday, March 31 to the schedule.
"We are pleased to offer an additional day of racing and a second purse increase this meet," said Frank Hopf, Sam Houston's senior director of racing operations. "After we announced our first increase, we canceled four days of racing due to the winter storm in February that deeply affected Texas. Since then, we have been supported very well by our horsemen and horseplayers who continue to respond to our racing product."
Texas Champions Day on March 20 is the next major racing night of the season. Each of the purses for the seven stakes saluting Texas-breds have been increased from $75,000 to $100,000.