Sam Houston Race Park, with the support and cooperation of the Texas Thoroughbred Association, will host Texas Champions Day, a Live Thoroughbred Racing event with a Texas theme, on Saturday, December 1, 2007. The event will also live entertainment and a performance by “2004 Best Country Singer in Houston” winner Mignon Grabois.

The Park will host a special pre-racing handicapping seminar featuring track announcer Michael Chamberlain, the Houston Chronicle’s Martha Claussen and Daily Racing Form correspondent Mary Rampellini.

A “$2,500 Texas Champions Day Online/At the Track Handicapping Contest” invites guests to try their hand at handicapping our 8 stakes races on Saturday, December 1, 2007. Contestants will be asked to make win, place and show selections on the 8 stakes races: the “Star of Texas Stakes,” the “Martanza Stakes,” the “Richard King Stakes,” the “San Jacinto Stakes,” the “Spirit of Texas Stakes,” the “Yellow Rose Stakes,” the “Groovy Stakes,” and the “Bara Lass Stakes.” The guest with the highest cumulative net total from the above races based on an assumed $2 win, place and show wager will be declared the winner of the contest.

Patrons entering the park after 5 p.m. will receive a free commemorative event t-shirt on a first-come, first-serve basis. The event is open to patrons of all ages. Tickets are available for $4 for adults, $2 for Senior Citizens and children under 12 are FREE. Texas Champions Day is presented by Woodford Reserve and Dodge. For more information visit www.shrp.com or call 281.807.8760.

Draw for Texas Champions Day Set for Wednesday

The draw for Texas Champions Day will take place on Wednesday, November 28. This showcase event featuring eight stakes races and purses of $500,000 will take place on Saturday, December 1, 2007. with post time set for 7:00 p.m.

There will be eight stakes races on the Texas Champions Day card, written for accredited Texas-breds with purses underwritten by the Texas Thoroughbred Association (TTA) and Sam Houston Race Park. The stakes races are as follows:

• Star of Texas Stakes $100,000 3YO&up 1 1/16 miles
• Martanza Stakes $75,000 FM3YO&up 1 mile
• Richard King Handicap $50,000 3YO&up 1 1/8 miles (t)
• San Jacinto Stakes $50,000 FM3YO&up 1 1/16 miles (t)
• Spirit of Texas Stakes $50,000 3YO&up 6 furlongs
• Yellow Rose Stakes $50,000 FM3YO&up 6 furlongs
• Groovy Stakes $50,000 2YO 7furlongs
• Bara Lass Stakes $50,000 F2YO 7 furlongs

Defending Champions Nominated for Texas Champions Day Stakes

Several defending champions have been nominated for Texas Champions Day. Sandburr, owned by Feel The Thunder Stable and trained by Michael Stidham, will defend his title in the $100,000 Star of Texas Stakes. The 8-year-old gelding made six starts in 2007, winning two stakes, including the $50,000 Premiere Stakes last April at Lone Star Park. Sweet Idea, who scored a seven-length win in the $75,000 Martanza Stakes, will return, according to trainer Bret Calhoun. The 4-year-old filly, owned by Barnett Stables LLC captured the $50,000 Allen Bogan Memorial Stakes on July 7 at Lone Star Park and made her last two starts on the turf at Remington Park. Both winners of the $50,000 San Jacinto Stakes, Tunnel Time and Wild Encounter, have been nominated for this year’s edition of the mile and one-sixteenth turf stakes. The two finished in a dead-heat in the 2006 San Jacinto Stakes. Tunnel Time is owned and trained by Charles Hukill and Wild Encounter is conditioned by Michelle Lovell for Lucas Downs, Ltd. and Agave Racing Stable. Northern Scene, owned by Don Eberts and trained by Morris Nicks, will defend his title in the other turf race on the Texas Champions Day card, the $50,000 Richard King Stakes.

Finally, Mystery Classic, winner of the $50,000 Spirit of Texas Stakes, will put a four-race win streak on the line as he goes to the gate in the six furlong sprint. The 4-year-old son of Mystery Storm is owned by John L. Pierce II and trained by Robert Schultz. He has been undefeated since June 4, winning stakes at Lone Star Park, Remington Park and Retama Park.

Jockey, Trainer and Owner Standings

Sam Houston Race Park kicked off its 2007/2008 Thoroughbred meeting on Friday, November 23. Larry Taylor, who was the leading rider here last season, won four races over opening weekend. He is tied with Jorge Guzman for the lead in the jockey standings following the first three days of the meeting.

Danny Pish, who was the leading trainer at Sam Houston Race Park for the past two years, won three races last weekend and shares the lead with H. B. Johnson and Michelle Lovell. Steve Asmussen captured the first stakes of the meeting as Deputy Dance won the $25,000 Bountiful Harvest Stakes on Saturday night.

H. B. Johnson and Griffon Farms share the lead in the owner standings with two wins each in the first three days of the meeting.

Inaugural New Year’s Eve Zoom & Boom Celebration

Sam Houston Race Park invites Houstonians to ring in 2008 in style at the inaugural New Year’s Eve Zoom & Boom Celebration on Monday, December 31, 2007. Guests are invited to “come-as-you-are” with boots and jeans casual attire for a night of Thoroughbred racing, live entertainment featuring dance music from the 70s, 80s and more, champagne toast along with one of the largest firework displays in town! Ticket packages include reserved seating for racing, racing program, buffet dinner by award winning Executive Chef Francis Walters, special New Year’s party favors, commemorative champagne flute and more! The event will also feature K-Hits & 106.9 The Point DJs and KRIV Fox 26 personalities counting down to 2008. Ticket packages start at $15 per person. For more information visit www.shrp.com or call 281.807.8760.

Other Racing Information

The northwest Houston racetrack will host a special live race card on Monday, December 31, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. The 2007/2008 Thoroughbred meeting will continue though Saturday, April 5, 2008.

A complete list of racing dates and stakes is available on the Sam Houston Race Park web site, shrp.com. Horsemen can obtain the first condition book by calling the racing office at 1-800-807-RACE or online on the Sam Houston Race Park web site at www.shrp.com.

VIP Club December Specials Offered at Sam Houston Race Park

Simulcast action continues seven days a week during live racing. Sam Houston Race Park provides great offers and benefits for our VIP Club members. Promotions for the month of December- include:

December 13th and 23rd, Guys Night Out: It’s Guys Night Out at Sam Houston Race Park! Come out to see your favorite NFL games on the big screen and enjoy our Guys Night Out NFL Package this Thursday, November 29, 2007, for the Green Bay Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys Game at 7:15 p.m. Come back and enjoy your Houston Texans as they take on the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, December 23, 2007. Catch the game and also enjoy live Thoroughbred racing and food & drink specials for the evening. Tickets for the evening are $15 per person and include Park admission, counter seat, racing program and food and beverage. For more information, visit www.shrp.com.

December 31st at SHRP: All VIP members will enjoy a 20% Discount on all New Years Eve packages. For more information regarding packages, visit www.shrp.com.

All contest rules can be found on www.shrp.com. To become a VIP Club member, visit the Players Lounge located at the North end of the Grandstand on the Paddock Level. For more information about the VIP Club visit the Players Lounge or call 281-807-8278.