(Houston, Texas - Thursday, July 29, 2010) - Sam Houston Race Park will host the 12th Annual Texas Quarter Horse Association (TQHA) Summer Showdown on July 30 & 31, 2010. The highlight of the weekend’s races, and largest stakes race of The Park’s 2010 American Quarter Horse meet, will be the $400,000 TQHA Sale Futurity (RG1), which will take place on Saturday evening.

Friday night’s stakes races feature the $15,000+ Jones Bloodstock Insurance Starter Stakes showcasing Texas-bred Quarter Horses three years of age and up racing a distance of 350 yards; $30,000+ Gulf Coast 4 Star Trailer “550” Stakes (RG3) with three-year-old Texas-bred horses and older running 550 yards; $35,000+ Ancira Ford Classic showcasing three-year-old Texas-bred horses and up racing 400 yards; and the $30,000+ Barnmaster Sprint Stakes (RG3) will feature Texas-bred horses three years of age and up sprinting a distance of 250 yards.

Saturday night’s race card features the highly anticipated $400,000 TQHA Sale Futurity featuring two-year-old Quarter Horses which passed through the 2009 TQHA Yearling Sale Ring, qualified and remain eligible for the race. The 350-yard sprint will showcase Jazzy Sixes who was the fastest qualifier from the trials held at The Park on July 16. Jazzy Sixes has a winning combination behind him with trainer Tooter Jordan and jockey Rodrigo Sigala Vallejo both making their way into The Park’s top five in their respective fields.

“You can’t really ask for a better start,” commented Jordan. “We’re very pleased with how well he’s come out and won both starts here at Sam Houston and we expect him to keep getting better with each race.”

The remainder of the 10-horse field features: Gols Honey Money Pop, Jakes Charming Jody, Eyza It, Fettish, MCM Shes Oceans Away, BB Azoom, Brimmies Alli Bi B, Executive Precision and Endless Ocean.

Also featured on Saturday’s live race card will be the $62,730 Adequan Texas Derby Challenge (G3). The Adequan Texas Derby Challenge will showcase three-year-old Quarter Horses racing a distance of 400 yards. The favorite is Diamond For Jess (5-2), who is solid, winning two of only five starts at The Park. The three-year-old gelding is trained by R.L. Rick Robinson and will be ridden by jockey Luis Ramirez.

The remainder of the 10-horse field will feature: GJR Snowman, JA Call Collect, Get Down Boy, Golly Zee, Ms Riptide, Nancys Ocean, Azoomin With Jessie, Shazooms Golden Boy and Hotlittlechica.

In addition to live racing this weekend, The Park will host Party on the Patio BBQ Bash featuring general admission and a BBQ plate with choice of (2) meats, potato salad and baked beans for $15 per person, along with $2 draft beer from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.

The Verizon Wireless Summer Concert Series on the Bud Light stage hosts a concert from Luke Bryan and Whiskey Myers presented by The New 93Q immediately following live racing events. Tickets start at $15 and provide FREE admission to live racing. For more information, visit www.theshowgrounds.com.