Category: Lone Star Park

2024 Texas Two-Year-Old Sale Scheduled for April 3rd at Lone Star Park

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(Austin, TX) – The 2024 Texas Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale will be held on April 3, 2024 at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, TX. The breeze show is scheduled for Monday, April 1, 2024.

“We’re excited to follow up our solid 2023 sale with our 2024 edition of our Texas Two-Year-Old Sale,” TTA Sales Director Foster Bridwell said. “We continue to pursue quality offerings that create an attractive marketplace for our buyers in the region.”

Recent graduates include undefeated Strong Promise, now a three-time stakes winner who won the 2023 Texas Thoroughbred Association Filly Futurity, who is a graduate of our 2023 two-year-old sale from the Pike Racing consignment. And our 2023 sales-topper, a Tapwrit filly also consigned by Pike Racing, now named Blue Squall, ran back-to-back game seconds at Churchill Downs in her first two starts.

“Our graduates are competing both locally and nationally and show the type of athletes our consignors have offered each year,” Bridewell said. “We’re already working on putting together another solid catalog for our 2024 sale.”

The breeze show is set for Monday, April 1st on the Lone Star Park dirt, starting at 8am. The sale will be held Wednesday, April 3rd inside the sales pavilion, starting at 10am.

The Entry Deadline for the Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale is January 15, 2024, and consignment forms are now available at www.ttasales.com.

Texas-Breds to Benefit from New Change to 2024 Racing Purses at Sam Houston and Lone Star Park

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August 23, 2023 – Texas-breds are receiving a raise during the 2024 Thoroughbred race meets at Class 1 tracks in Texas. The Texas Thoroughbred Association, Texas Horsemen’s Partnership, Sam Houston Race Park and Lone Star Park came together to collectively approve the new purse structure alteration.

For 2024, Texas-bred maiden special weight and allowance races will carry a minimum purse of $40,000 at Sam Houston and Lone Star Park. This is being accomplished by reconfiguring the allocation of funds provided by the TTA to the tracks from Texas Horse Industry Escrow Account (HIEA). The minimum purse of $40,000 for these races is a $7,000 increase per race – a 21% increase over 2023 levels for the same race conditions.

“It is gratifying to see what can be accomplished when the Thoroughbred industry and the racetracks work together. Supporting Texas horse owners and breeders and promoting the value of Texas-bred horses is our number one priority,” commented Tracy Sheffield, President of the Texas Thoroughbred Association.

HB 2463 was passed in the 2019 legislative session. Derived from a portion of state sales taxes on equine goods and services, it provides up to $25-million per year to stimulate the Texas Equine Industry, with 70% ($17.5 million) earmarked for purse funds and the remaining 30% ($7.5 million) available to the official state breed registries (TTA, TQHA, TABA, TPHA) for TRC approved events and programs. Funds became available in 2020.

“The purse restructuring shows dedication to Texas-breds on the racetrack and it has a positive impact on a large number of Texas horsemen,” said Bryan Pettigrew, Vice President and General Manager of Sam Houston Race Park. “The owners and trainers I have spoken with are praising the change. It’s putting more money on the table for Texas-breds.”

Finalizing the purse transition comes at an opportune time. The Texas Thoroughbred Association’s annual Summer Yearling Sale is August 28. According to TTA, the sale will be one of the largest in history and there’s a tremendous level of excitement and anticipation for Monday’s sale.  Of the 271 catalogued sale entries, almost 100 are Texas-breds, proving they are in high demand, thanks in part to the numerous Texas breeders’ incentives now in place and proven by their success on the racetrack.

One of the largest consignors at the sale is Highlander Training Center whose catalogue includes 22 Texas-breds in Monday’s yearling sale.

“Increasing purse money for Texas-breds and raising the level of maiden special weight purses will absolutely have a positive impact on the yearling sale,” noted Jeff Hooper, Chairman & CEO at Highlander Training Center. “Purses drive the business, and this very positive news will create increased enthusiasm and interest among owners and trainers looking for quality Texas-bred racing prospects.”

Since the passage of House Bill 2463, the racing program has been expanded in the State. First of all, the Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity at Lone Star Park was revamped with a $150,000 purse for each division. The $100,000 Texas Thoroughbred Association Derby and Oaks were both added to the Sam Houston Race Park calendar to further support the industry. Numerous top stallions have moved into the state which has strengthened the Texas Stallion Stakes, a six race series for the offspring of participating Texas stallions. The increase in Texas-bred maiden special weight and allowance race purses is the latest development. The overall 2024 HIEA plan is pending Texas Racing Commission approval.

Lone Star Park Announces 2023 Thoroughbred Season

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After coming off of a successful Thoroughbred racing season in 2022, Lone Star Park is looking forward to 2023.

The Thoroughbred racing season will begin April 13, 2023, with 44 live racing days and will conclude July 4. The calendar features live racing on Thursdays and Fridays at 6:35 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays, and Memorial Day at 1:35 p.m., and special twilight post times of 5:00 p.m. on July 3 and July 4.

The 2023 Thoroughbred racing season stakes schedule will have a total of 21 stakes worth a combined total of $2,925,000. The highlight of the schedule is Lone Star Million Day on Memorial Day, and the marquee race is the $400,000 guaranteed Steve Sexton Mile (G3), for 3-year-olds and up at one mile. The Summer Turf Festival will be returning June 24.

Other than the $75,000 Bluebonnet Stakes, which kicks off the season on opening night, all other stakes will be held on one of four dates. They are:

*    Lone Star Million Day, May 29—six stakes worth a total of $1,200,000
*    Lone Star Showcase Day, June 3—five stakes worth a total of $375,000
*    Summer Turf Festival, June 24—four stakes worth a total of $750,000
*    Stars of Texas Day, July 1— five stakes worth a total of $525,000.

The 2023 Thoroughbred racing season stakes schedule can be found at: https://www.lonestarpark.com/stakes-schedule/.

Total purses will average an estimated $260,000 per day for the 44-day meet.

2023 Texas Two-Year-Old Sale Set for April 5th at Lone Star Park

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(Austin, TX) – The 2023 Texas Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale will be held on April 5, 2023 at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, TX. The breeze show is scheduled for Monday, April 3, 2023.

“We’ve already had a lot of interest in our 2023 sale season,” Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Director Foster Bridewell said. “Our two-year-old sale has certainly gotten stronger in terms of quality in the past few years and those horses have been performing well at tracks around the midwest and south.”

Last year’s $200,000 sales topper, Free Drop Maddy, broke her maiden in the $150,000 Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity at Lone Star Park, after a strong second on debut at Churchill Downs. She most recently won the Donovan L. Ferguson Memorial Stakes at the Fair Grounds Race Track for Mansfield Racing and Bret Calhoun. And 2022 graduate Tensas Candy won the $100,000 My Trusty Cat Stakes at Delta Downs for Terrell Jarrett Jr and Jorge Lara earlier this month; she was a $29,000 purchase from the Bryan Ford consignment.

“Our graduates are proof of the quality our consignors have offered each year,” Bridewell said. “We’re excited to get to work on putting together another solid edition in April.”

The breeze show is set for Monday, April 3rd, on the Lone Star Park dirt. The sale will be held Wednesday, April 5, 2023, inside the sales pavilion.

The Entry Deadline for the Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale is January 16, 2023, and consignment forms are now available at www.ttasales.com.

HISA Faces New Legal Challenge in Texas

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Lawsuit says the authority’s enforcement systems are unconstitutional.

 

A lawsuit filed on July 29 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas challenges the authority of the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Authority.

The suit was brought by Lone Star Park owner Global Gaming, the owner of a Texas greyhound track seeking approvals to run horse races, and two entities trying to develop racetracks for horses in Texas. The suit and a motion for preliminary injunction motion argue that members of the HISA board of directors should have been appointed by the President on the advice and consent of the Senate, and that the Authority is unconstitutionally structured because the President cannot superintend the authority’s execution of laws.

 

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More than 200 Horses Cataloged for the 2022 Texas Summer Yearling Sale

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(Austin, TX) – Two-Hundred-Twelve yearlings made the catalog for the 2022 Texas Summer Yearling Sale, presented by the Texas Thoroughbred Association and Lone Star Park. The sale will be held on August 29th at the sales pavilion at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas. 

The sale will feature a good mix of regional and national stallion and pedigree influence. The catalog lists yearlings by leading 2022 freshman stallions Justify, Good Magic, Sharp Azteca, and Mendelssohn, as well as youngsters by Violence, Bernardini, Tapiture, Midshipman, Jimmy Creed, Midnight Lute, Paynter, Practical Joke, Goldencents, Kantharos, and Keen Ice, sire of 2022 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike. First crop stallions Mitole, Vino Rosso, Flameaway, Catalina Cruiser, Coal Front, Enticed, Breaking Lucky, Code West, and Preservationist are represented.

“This book represents the best of the best that this region has to offer,” TTA Sales Director Foster Bridewell said. “Our breeders, owners, and consignors really delivered with quality stallions, families, and physicals. I have been very impressed by this yearling crop, both regionally and nationally, and am looking forward to the sale on August 29th.”

Texas and regional stallion power will also be on display this year, featuring yearlings by Texas’ top sires Too Much Bling, Bradester, My Golden Song, and Competitive Edge, as well as regional leaders like Star Guitar and El Deal.

“Our Texas and regional programs have gotten stronger in recent years, and I think this year’s yearling group is a sign of that,” Bridewell added. “We have a lot of pedigrees that have stakes influence both nationally and locally and that’s a sign of the growth our sale has made in recent years.”

Notable yearlings cataloged:

Hip 2: Louisiana bred Colt by Half Ours who is a half sibling to two stakes winners, including 2021 Texas Thoroughbred Futurity winner Streak of Silver. Consigned by Clear Creek Stud.

Hip 9: Texas bred Colt by Lord Nelson who is a half to Texas Champion and G1SP/MGSW Con Lima. Consigned by Stoneview Farm, Agent.

Hip 19: Texas bred Filly by Too Much Bling who is a full sister to G3SP/SW Bling on the Music. Consigned by Highlander Training Center, Agent.

Hip 81: Texas bred Filly by Khozan who is a half to G3SW Prudhoe Bay. Consigned by Oakridge Farm.

Hip 92: Louisiana bred Colt by Midshipman who is a half brother to G3SP Untitled. Consigned by Red River Farm.

Hip 103: Texas bred Filly by Include who is a full sister to G3SW Proud Emma. Consigned by Highlander Training Center, Agent.

Hip 107: Texas bred Colt by Tapiture who is a half sibling to two stakes winners. Consigned by Asmussen Horse Center, Agent.

Hip 115: Louisiana bred Filly by Jimmy Creed who is a full sister to MSW X Clown. Consigned by 4M Ranch, Agent.

Hip 127: Texas bred Filly by Too Much Bling who is a half sister to MSW No Mas Tequila and MSP Imaluckycharm. Consigned by Benchmark Training Center, Agent.

Hip 143: Florida bred Colt by Justify out of SP Iroquois Girl, from the family of G3SW Salty Strike. Consigned by KP Sales, Agent.

Hip 204: Texas bred Filly by Bradester who is a half sister to 2022 Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity winner Vietnam Victory. Consigned by KP Sales, Agent.

Hip 206: Texas bred Filly by My Golden Song who is a half sister to six SW/SP runners including Kat’s Infatuation and Shocktime and from the family of G3SW He’s Comin in Hot. Consigned by Benchmark Training Center, Agent.

Hip 212: Texas bred Colt by Vino Rosso out of an unraced full sister to SW/MGSP Kid Kate. Consigned by Stoneview Farm, Agent.

 

The interactive catalog is available now at www.ttasales.com. The catalog is also available for download on the Equineline IPad App. Supplements to the catalog are expected.

 

TTA Addresses HISA Questions Regarding Racing, Wagering, and Sales in Texas

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TTA

HISA Questions Regarding Racing, Wagering, and Sales in Texas
To All Owners/Trainers/Breeders/Consignors:
As of July 1st, HISA plans to implement their rules and regulations in this country, about which we’ve received several calls and e-mails related to potential impact to racing and sales in Texas.
Beginning July 1, Lone Star Park will cease exporting their simulcast signal through the end of the current Thoroughbred meet, so HISA authority will not apply. This is per action this week by the Texas Racing Commission’s Executive Director. On July 1, you CAN STILL wager on Texas horse racing in Texas -AND- you will still be able to wager on horse racing from other parts of the country at a Texas racing facility.
For our August 2022 Yearling Sale, there is no HISA impact whatsoever on our sale or for our consignors. Neither sales horses nor persons working or attending the sales need to be registered with HISA.
We’ve also had contact from some of our Two-Year-Old Sales Consignors. We’ve been told by HISA officials that two-year-old sales horses and those working or attending those sales are NOT considered “covered” under HISA rules. Therefore, we’ve been told there is no need to register.
As of today, this is what we’ve been told relating to sales. The racing at Lone Star Park’s 2022 Thoroughbred meet will continue through the scheduled end of the meet and on track/in-state wagering will continue.

Out-of-State Wagering on Lone Star to Suspend July 1

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HISA is scheduled to take effect at the start of next month.

 

Following through on a previously issued memorandum defying compliance with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, Lone Star Park has been denied approval to export its racing signal out-of-state beginning July 1, Texas Racing Commission executive director Amy Cook confirmed June 15.

HISA is scheduled to take effect at the start of next month, although implementation of medication rules and enforcement will be delayed pending either adoption or rejection of the rules by the Federal Trade Commission after a public comment period.

The Lone Star Park Thoroughbred season concludes July 17.

 

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EHV-1: Lone Star Park Restricts Shippers From Fonner, Parx

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It is Lone Star Park’s policy that horses that have been stabled at Fonner Park in Nebraska or Parx Racing in Pennsylvania will not be allowed to participate at Lone Star Park until further notice.

Furthermore, we also continue to require that all horses admitted to the Lone Star Park stable area have a current (within 90 days) FDA approved EHV-1 vaccine or EHV-1 booster.

Vaccine information must be noted on the health certificate for admittance to Lone Star Park.

While we understand this is an inconvenience for horsemen, we are simply doing all we can as an industry to prevent the spread of the highly contagious EHV-1 virus, while doing what we believe to be the best management practices for such prevention.

Any and all horsemen shipping horses to Lone Star Park are strongly urged to contact the Lone Star Park racing office for further information.

2022 TEXAS 2-YEAR-OLDS IN TRAINING SALE SET FOR APRIL 6, 2022

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The Texas Thoroughbred Association and Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie have announced that the 2022 Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale will be held on Wednesday, April 6, at the Dallas-area racetrack. The breeze show will be held Monday, April 4.

 

The 2022 Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale comes on the heels of the strong 2021 Texas Summer Yearling Sale. That sale saw an increase in the number of horses cataloged and sold, as well as a positive jump in the average and median sale prices.

 

“Based on what we saw with the Texas Summer Yearling Sale, I think there’s a lot of anticipation for the upcoming Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale in April,” TTA Sales Director Foster Bridewell said. “I think we’re uniquely positioned in the 2-year-old sales landscape to provide a quality sale for our owners, trainers, and breeders and still attract out of region buyers and sellers.”

 

The sale will be held about three weeks before Lone Star Park kicks off its 2022 Thoroughbred meet with 48 days of racing starting on April 28th. As usual, the Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity, for TTA Sales graduates and Accredited Texas-breds made eligible through consignor or buyer berths, will be held on closing weekend at Lone Star with two divisions, each at $150,000 guaranteed.

 

Graduates of the Texas Yearling or 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale will also be eligible for the new Texas Thoroughbred Association Derby and Oaks for 3-year-olds. Both will be held at Sam Houston Race Park in 2023.

 

“The expanded stakes program for Texas Thoroughbred Association sales graduates certainly gives buyers something extra to think about when they’re bidding on horses,” Bridewell said. “Our graduates have had success in the Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity, and that’s carried over in other stakes races around the country, including the first, second, and third place finishers in this year’s Clever Trevor Stakes at Remington Park.”

 

“Also, thanks to the passage of HB 2460 in 2019, the Texas horse industry benefits from the infusion of $25 million per year, increasing purses and Accredited Texas-bred incentive awards,” Bridewell added. “It really does pay to breed, sell and race in Texas.”

 

The Entry Deadline for the Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale is January 17, 2022, and consignment forms are now available at www.ttasales.com.