A brief but powerful storm hit northwest Houston at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 22, and damaged a tent for next weekend's TQHA Yearling Sale at Sam Houston Race Park. The 80'x 400' tent was being assembled in the north parking lot, adjacent to the Pavilion Centre, the building in which the Yearling Sale will be held. The storm, accompanied by gale force winds, knocked the tent across the rail and onto the racetrack.  Two food and beverage employees, Lester Gordon and Jeronimo Oviedo, sustained minor injuries in the accident and were transported to Tomball Hospital for treatment.

A crew of workers began removing debris from the racetrack immediately and Sam Houston Race Park officials were confident that live Quarter Horse racing would resume on schedule on Friday, July 23.  The track will be closed for training on Friday morning while repairs to the rail and
fencing are completed.

"The track will reopen for live racing on Friday," commented Ann McGovern, Sam Houston Race Park's vice president of operations.  "However, the status of next weekend's TQHA Yearling Sale is unknown at this time."

Rob Werstler, executive director of the Texas Quarter Horse Racing Association (TQHA), on Friday morning said a replacement tent had been found and would be assembled on Friday. The sale's temporary stalls will be put in place over the weekend so the horses will be able to move in as scheduled.

The TQHA Yearling Sale, now in its seventh year, had attracted a record 390 yearlings. This was the first time in its history that it was expanded to a two-day event on Friday, July 30 and Saturday, July 31.