On May 29, Lone Star Park announced that it has cancelled five stakes races in July and downgraded another in June due to a continued decrease in business levels. In addition, the track announced that the conditions for the July 11, $50,000 Valor Farm Stakes have been changed.

The five stakes that will not be run in 2009 are the $50,000 Lone Star Park Turf Sprint (5 furlongs on turf) for three-year-olds and up on July 4; the $50,000 Allen Bogan Memorial Stakes (one mile) for Texas-bred fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, and $50,000 Harold V. Goodman Memorial (6 ½ furlongs) for Texas-bred, 3-year-olds both on July 11; $50,000 Bob Johnson Memorial (one mile on turf) for 3-year-olds and up on July 18; and the $75,000 Silver Spur Stakes (6 furlongs) for 2-year-old fillies on July 25.

“It is very disappointing to have to cancel these stakes from our 2009 Spring Thoroughbred meet at Lone Star Park, but these cuts will allow us to preserve our current level of overnight purses at this point to ensure that we maintain the quality of our day-to-day racing product,” said Lone Star Park President and General Manager Drew Shubeck.

“Unfortunately, the continuing downward trend in handle makes this necessary,” added Shubeck. “This is not just a local problem in Texas because the soft economy nationally has adversely affected racetracks across the country. In the meantime, we will continue to provide an excellent entertainment value for our fans through our Big Event Days, promotions and recently-announced summer discounts.”

On July 11, Stars of Texas Day, the conditions of the $50,000 Valor Farm Stakes will be changed to one mile for Texas-bred fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up. It had previously been for Texas-bred, 3-year-old fillies and run at 6 furlongs.

In addition, the $50,000 Nevill/Kyocera Stakes (five furlongs on turf) for fillies and mares, three-years-old and up on June 20 will be run as a non-stakes event, the Nevill Purse, with the conditions and purse to be determined at a later date.