(Thursday, August 21, 2008) - Sam Houston Race Park will hold multiple trial races, high-dollar simulcast stakes racing from Saratoga and Del Mar, and the Breeders’ Cup handicapping contest beginning Friday, August 22 through Sunday, August 24.

Eight thrilling trial races for the $100,000 Sam Houston Futurity (G1) will fill the 10-race card on Friday, August 22. The final will be held on Friday, September 5, and will feature the top two-year-olds in the 400-yard distance.

On Saturday, August 23, The Park will host the $15,000+ Texas Twister stakes race for three-year-olds and up going a distance of 110 yards. The favorite is six-year-old gelding Suprisingly Special (7-2), with Quickid Perry(5-1) and Chief Corona (5-1) vying for second favorite.In addition, simulcast racing fans will enjoy Saratoga’s $1,000,000 Travers Stakes (G1) and the $250,000 NetJets King’s Bishop Stakes (G1). This marks the 139th running of the Travers Stakes for three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a one-and-a-quarter-mile distance. This race is undoubtedly the most popular race throughout the Saratoga meet. Post time for Saratoga's Travers Stakes Day card will be 12:45 p.m. EST.

The Park will hold four trial races on Saturday for the $35,000 Sam Houston Derby (G2), with the final being held on Saturday, September 6. It will also hold the “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Blast Off handicapping contest. Player check-in begins at 5 p.m., and first post will be at 6 p.m. The grand prize includes a trip for two to the 2008 Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Santa Anita Park on October 24 and 25. For more information and contest rules visit www.shrp.com.

The weekend’s events conclude with Del Mar’s $1,000,000 Pacific Classic (G1) and the $250,000 Ballerina Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on Sunday, August 24. The Pacific Classic, one of the top Thoroughbred races on the West Coast, has become part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series. The winner of this prestigious stakes race automatically qualifies for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. First post at Del Mar will be 2 p.m. PDT.

Immediately following live racing events on Friday and Saturday at The Park, The Showgrounds (www.theshowgrounds.com) will continue with the Verizon Wireless post-race concert series on the Bud Light stage with a performance from The Randy Rogers Band on Friday, August 22 and Billy Ray Cyrus with special guest Tommy Joe Wilson on Saturday, August 23.

Live Quarter Horse racing continues with racing every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in August at Sam Houston Race Park. For a complete list of racing dates, stakes races and more, visit www.shrp.com or call 281-807-8700.