Houston Ladies Classic Receives Purse Hike to $400,000

Sam Houston Race Park will kick off its 2022 live racing season Jan. 6 with an expanded 50-day Thoroughbred meet with $2,275,000 in stakes purses.

The track's Houston Racing Festival is set for Jan. 30, headlined by the Houston Ladies Classic (G3) and the John B. Connally Turf Stakes (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 10th running, the 1 1/16-mile Houston Ladies Classic continues to produce exceptional champions that make an impact on the national radar throughout the year.

The 2021 winner, St. George Stable's Letruska , continues to deny her rivals in graded stakes competition across the United States. Following her commanding victory in the Houston Ladies Classic, the 5-year-old Super Saver   mare has won five stakes, including four grade 1s. She currently ranks second in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top Thoroughbred Poll and will compete next in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar.

The purse for the Houston Ladies Classic has been raised from $300,000 to $400,000 for the coming year and officials are hopeful that the North American Graded Stakes committee will boost its status from the grade 3 level when an announcement is made later this year. 

The Houston Racing Festival also includes the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup, the $100,000 Pulse Power Turf Sprint, the $75,000 Jersey Lilly Turf Stakes, and the $75,000 Stonerside Sprint Stakes. The $200,000 Texas Turf Mile for 3-year-olds has attracted full field for the last two years and has been renamed as the Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile. 

Bork was a respected racing executive who joined Sam Houston Race Park as senior vice president and general manager in 1995 and was promoted to president in 2002. He passed away peacefully at his home in Houston on June 11, 2021, at the age of 83.

Dwight Berube, who worked for Bork throughout his Sam Houston Race Park tenure, is now the racetrack's vice president and general manager.

"Bob Bork set a tremendous foundation for the growth of Sam Houston Race Park when he was hired in 1995," said Berube. "Throughout his 12-year tenure, he was admired by horsemen, horseplayers, and employees and initiated many programs that have been emulated by racetracks across the country. We look forward to honoring him on the premier day of our upcoming racing season."  

Opportunities for Texas-breds will be plentiful in the upcoming meet with 14 Texas-bred stakes. All seven stakes races on Texas Champions Day will run with purses of  $100,000.

Frank Hopf, who was recently promoted to Sam Houston Race Park's assistant general manager, is eager for racing to return in January. 

"Over the past three years, we have received tremendous support from all of the stakeholders in Texas and the horseplayers have responded to the improved racing product," said Hopf. "The goal is to build on the positives from 2021 and continue to enhance Texas racing."

Additionally, Hopf also announced that both the Houston Ladies Classic and the John B. Connally Turf will run Lasix-free in 2022.