Live horse racing returns to Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie on Friday, September 26 with the start of the 11th annual Fall Meeting of Champions for American Quarter Horses. First post time is 6:35 p.m.

After opening weekend on Friday, September 26 and Saturday, September 27, the 31-night meet continues with racing three nights a week on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in October, and four evenings each week from Wednesday through Saturday during November, except Wednesday and Thursday, November 26-27 when there will be no live racing due to the Thanksgiving holiday. There will be 10 live races on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 11 races carded each Friday and Saturday evening. All post times are 6:35 p.m.

The highlight of opening night is the Restricted Grade 3, $30,000 Classic Chevrolet Heartbeat of America Handicap for Texas-breds, three years old and up to be run at 350 yards, the ninth race on the 10-race card.

The 2008 Fall Meeting of Champions features a total of 27 stakes worth an estimated $2.55 million including five Grade 1 races. Lone Star Park’s premier Grade 1 races for two- and three-year-olds will be run on the same evening, Saturday, November 29. The $1 Million estimated Texas Classic Futurity – annually the state’s richest horse race – and $400,000-estimated Texas Classic Derby on closing night.

Other highlights of the meet include the $475,000-estimated Dash For Cash Futurity and $200,000-estimated Dash For Cash Derby on Saturday, October 25, and the Grade 1, $100,000 Refrigerator Handicap on Saturday, October 4. The winner of that 440-yard event for three-year-olds and up annual receives an automatic berth to Grade 1, $1 million Champion of Champions, which is scheduled for Saturday, December 13 at Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, California.

Lone Star Park’s 31-day, 2008 Quarter Horse Fall Meeting of Champions will be held from September 26 to November 29. After the opening weekend on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26-27, racing will be held every Thursday through Saturday in October and each Wednesday through Saturday in November, except Wednesday and Thursday, November 26-27 when there will be no live racing due to the Thanksgiving holiday. First post time for all dates will be 6:35 p.m. For more information, visit the track’s Web site at www.lonestarpark.com.