Sam Houston Race Park and FOX Sports Houston have entered into an exclusive agreement to create and co-produce Sam Houston Race Park Insider, a monthly show dedicated to highlighting live racing, live music and other exciting activities and events taking place at The Park for the 2009/2010 season. The show, which is hosted by FOX Sports Houston personality Patti Smith and features appearances by The Park’s live racing announcer Michael Chamberlain, will debut on Monday, May 18 at 6:30 p.m. and cover topics such as The Park’s Grand Re-Opening Celebration, Triple Crown simulcast events, 15 years of racing history and heritage, Hurricane Ike repairs and renovations, the Verizon Wireless Summer Concert Series and upcoming special events. The show will also include in-depth profiles and unique access to stories with the jockeys, trainers and owners who race at The Park annually. In addition, the show will provide fan education elements including wagering 101 and handicapping tips for novice racing fans as well as behind-the-scenes tours and exclusive interviews with Park management and staff.

" Sam Houston Race Park is thrilled to partner with FOX Sports Houston to create original programming that highlights our live racing product as well as showcases major simulcast events, our concert and promotional events and the exciting changes to our facility,” said Wayne Hodes, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President, Sam Houston Race Park. “With the grand re-opening of The Park and our 15 year anniversary upon us, we felt the time was right to introduce The Park and the sport of horse racing to the station’s established viewing audience and we anticipate being able to introduce our fans to an up-and-coming station that is dedicated to showcasing hometown sports.”

“We’re excited about our new relationship with the Sam Houston Race Park team and look forward to bringing our viewers four new programs just in time for the American Quarter Horse racing season,” said FOX Sports Houston Senior Vice President/General Manager Steve Tello. “We aim to provide our viewers with a behind-the-scenes look into the sport of horse racing in Houston, giving unprecedented access to interviews with leading jockeys and trainers along with a look at the impressive facility and numerous events.”

In addition, FOX Sports Houston serves as the exclusive television partner for promotional events and dates including Saturday Value Day, which runs May 2-August 29, and features a new 1 p.m. post time, extended race cards and the Verizon Wireless Summer Concert Series on the Bud Light Stage immediately following racing. The day also includes the FREE Fun Zone with a variety of free giveaways and games, a large-scale misting tent, sand box area for kids, live music between races, interactive vendor booths, a variety of hot food off the grill, beers of the world, frozen margaritas and more!

Value Day also boasts a budget-conscious ticket package: $19 Fun 4-Pack offering (4) live racing tickets, (4) hot dogs, (4) sodas and (2) live racing programs. Value Day ticket holders can “Rock Out After Racing” with a special $11 concert ticket price. Standalone concert tickets for the Verizon Wireless Summer Concert Series are $15 with children 12 and under FREE; concert patrons are admitted to The Park for live racing events the day of the show for FREE. All concerts are general admission and include a limited number of VIP options. General admission to The Park starts at $4; $2 for senior citizens and children 12 and under get in FREE everyday of the summer. Season tickets are also available.

FOX Sports Houston reaches approximately four million cable and satellite homes in Houston and surrounding markets in Texas and Louisiana. The regional sports network offers a strong lineup of local sports programming and is the home for Houston Astros and Houston Rockets games, Houston Texans weekly shows during the NFL season, coverage of Big 12 Conference events (including football and basketball), local high school games, local college coaches shows, and customized regional shows and specials, including the new Sam Houston Race Park Insider program.