(November 11, 2004)- Nominations have closed for Texas Champions Day, one of the biggest days of racing for Sam Houston Race Park. This showcase event for Texas-bred racehorses will take place on Saturday, November 20 with a special post time of 6:00 p.m.

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

• $150,000 Sam Houston Texan Juvenile for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles
• $100,000 Star of Texas Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward at 1 1/16 miles
• $75,000 Martanza Stakes for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and upward at one mile
• $50,000 Richard King Handicap for 3-year-olds and upward at 1 1/8 miles on the turf
• $50,000 San Jacinto Stakes for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and upward at 1 1/16 miles on the turf
• $50,000 Spirit of Texas Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward at six furlongs
• $50,000 Yellow Rose Stakes for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and upward at six furlongs
• $50,000 Groovy Stakes for 2-year-olds at seven furlongs
• $50,000 Bara Lass Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at seven furlongs

Sam Houston Race Park will host the $2,500 Texas Champions Day Online Handicapping Contest. In addition, the northwest Houston racetrack will host a handicapping seminar with Scott Ehlers from the Daily Racing Form and Reid McLellan, racing education manager at Sam Houston Race Park.
They will preview the fields for the nine stakes races and offer wagering strategies for the Texas Champions Day card.

"We are honored to host this fine day of racing, showcasing so many excellent Texas-bred racehorses, Texas owners and breeders," said Robert L.
Bork, president and general manager of Sam Houston Race Park. "Texas Champions Day is always a big event for Sam Houston Race Park and we look forward to a great opening week of Thoroughbred racing."

The draw for the nine Texas Champions Day stakes races will take place on Wednesday, November 17, which is also opening day for the
2004/2005 Thoroughbred Meeting. For more information on the events and racing set for Texas Champions Day, call (281) 807-8760 or visit the Sam
Houston Race Park web site, www.shrp.com.