(April 5, 2006) - Sam Houston Race Park will host the $200,000 Connally Breeders’ Cup Turf Race on Saturday, April 8, 2006. In its twelfth running and first year as a Graded event, the Connally Breeders' Cup Turf is the richest stakes of the Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred meeting.

In addition to the $200,000 Connally Breeders’ Cup Turf Race, the evening will feature two other stakes races, the $40,000 Jersey Lilly Stakes for fillies and mares going one mile-and-a-sixteenth and the $40,000 Sam Houston Turf Sprint at a distance of five furlongs.

Fort Prado should be one of the top contenders in the Connally Breeders' Cup Turf. The 5-year-old son of El Prado won the Grade III Fair Grounds Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Louisiana Downs on January 21 and followed that up with a victory in the $125,000 Tampa Breeders’ Cup on February 25. Trained by Jeff Trosclair for owners Team Block and Patricia and David Ryan. Fort Prado, who will be ridden on Saturday by Robby Albarado, has bankrolled $523,100 to date.

Defending champion Rapid Proof, bred and owned by Dolphus Morrison, is one of the probable starters for the Connally Breeders' Cup Turf. The 6-year-old son of Fast Play won the biggest race of his career in 2005 when he captured the $500,000 Mervin H. Muniz Memorial Handicap on March 19. He followed that victory with his win in the 2005 Connally Breeders' Cup Turf. Trained by Hal Wiggins, Rapid Proof will be ridden on Saturday by Brian Hernandez, Jr. Hernandez was aboard Rapid Proof on March 17 in a turf allowance prep, his first race since November. He ran second in that race to Seainsky, who is also expected to contend in the Connally Breeders' Cup Turf for trainer Danny Pish.

“Saturday night’s card will be exceptional with the Grade III Connally Breeders' Cup Turf and two additional turf stakes,” said Robert L. Bork, Sam Houston Race Park president and general manager. “We are proud to present the first Thoroughbred graded stakes in the history of Sam Houston Race Park and look forward to making the final weekend of our Thoroughbred season memorable for racing fans here and across the country.”

The draw for the Grade III Connally Breeders' Cup Turf and the accompanying stakes will take place on Wednesday, April 6. Post time for the Saturday, April 8 card at Sam Houston Race Park is 7:00 p.m.(CST).

Final Weekend of the 2005/2006 Thoroughbred Meeting

The 2005/2006 Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred meeting will conclude on Sunday, April 9. Live racing will take place on 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening. Post time for the final day of the meeting is 5:00 p.m. and will include the presentation of the End of the Meeting awards for leading owner, rider and trainer.

Advanced Wagering for the Connally Breeders' Cup Turf Card

Sam Houston Race Park will offer advanced wagering on the entire Connally Breeders' Cup Turf card on Friday, April 7. Gates open at 10:30 a.m. for simulcasting and the first Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred race is set for 7:00 p.m.

Johnny Lee to Perform at 5:00 p.m. This Saturday

The festivities for the Grade III Connally Breeders' Cup Turf include a free concert by country music artist Johnny Lee before the evening’s races. Lee who is probably best known by Houston fans for his hit song “Looking for Love” from Urban Cowboy, will belt out his hits on the Paddock Balcony Stage. The Texas native was named the Academy of Country Music Best New Artist in 1980. Lee’s hits include “Pickin' Up Strangers”, “Be There For Me Baby”, “Cherokee Fiddle”, “Bet Your Heart On Me” and “One In A Million”.

Lee will perform his good time favorites at 5:00 p.m.on Saturday, April 8, 2006. Racing fans are encouraged to come early to enjoy his concert and receive a free Connally Breeders' Cup Turf t-shirt.

Best Country Singer in Houston, Mark Ward to Sing the National Anthem

Mark Ward of Cypress, Texas, won the coveted title of the Best Country Singer in Houston last February at Sam Houston Race Park. He will return to the northwest Houston racetrack on Saturday evening to perform the National Anthem.

Ward impressed the judges with his rendition of the Brooks and Dunn hit, “Believe”. It was an emotional victory for Ward, 33, who has been singing for over 15 years. His father, who had a profound musical influence on him, just passed away in December. The father of three is a document management consultant and has lived in Houston all his life. He was awarded the top prize of $1,000 and a trip to the Academy of Country Music Awards.

Connally Breeders' Cup Turf Handicapping Seminar Set for 7:00 p.m.

Sam Houston Race Park will present a free Connally Breeders' Cup Turf Handicapping Seminar at 7:00 p.m. on the Club Level Stage. Brian Pochman, handicapper for the Daily Racing Form will be joined by Denis Blake, editor of the Texas Thoroughbred Magazine and Sam Houston Race Park publicity director Martha Claussen.

They will preview the Saturday night card and offer wagering strategies on the Grade III Connally Breeders' Cup Turf and other races. The first 25 attendees will receive a free Daily Racing Form.

Grade III Connally Breeders’ Cup Online Handicapping Contest

Racing fans in Texas and across the country are welcome to register for the $1,000 Connally Breeders’ Cup Online Handicapping Contest. The contest is open to all racing fans, 21-years of age or older, with a total of $1,000 in prizes to the top four finishers.

There is no entry fee for Connally Breeders’ Cup Online Handicapping Contest. Each contestant will be required to make win, place and show selections for the evening’s featured stakes, plus one additional race from the Saturday night card. Registration will take place on the Sam Houston Race Park web site, www.shrp.com beginning Thursday, April 6 at 3:00 p.m. with the deadline to enter at 7:00 on Saturday, April 8.

The player who earns the highest cumulative total based on the $2 win, $2 place and $2 show selections, will be awarded $500. The second place finisher will receive $300, $150 for the player in third and $50 to the fourth place contestant.

For more information and a complete set of rules for the Connally Breeders’ Cup Online Handicapping Contest, please call 281-807-8760 or visit the Sam Houston Race Park web site at www.shrp.com.

Jockey, Trainer and Owner Standings

Quincy Hamilton continues to rack up the wins at Sam Houston Race Park and has all but wrapped us his second leading rider title. On Friday, Hamilton rode five horses to victory, the most wins scored in one night so far this Thoroughbred meeting. The young and talented rider concluded the week with a total of 85 wins and $791,650 in earnings. He won the title last year with 88 wins. Glen Murphy follows Hamilton with 70 trips to the winner’s circle and Larry Taylor places third with 65 wins. Filemon Rodriguez currently retains the fourth place position, while Jorge Guzman makes his first appearance in the top five standings. The leading apprentice of the meet, Guzman picked up two wins on Saturday and two more on Sunday. Both he and Justin Shepherd are tied with 38 wins each.

Danny Pish is seeking his first training title at Sam Houston Race Park and will once again, have to battle it out until the final race of the meeting. Last year Pish had the lead in the standings and was tied with trainer Steve Asmussen heading into closing day. Asmussen won the final race of the card to lock up his fifth leading trainer title at the northwest Houston racetrack. This year’s competition will come from John Locke, who trails Pish by just one win. Pish completed the week with 48 wins, while Locke saddled four winners and is just one win behind the leader with 47 victories. W. Bret Calhoun maintains his third place position in the standings with 44 wins, and Steve Asmussen is in fourth with 39 wins. M. Brent Davidson reached the top five with 31 wins.

There has been no change in the Sam Houston Race Park owner standings. Shrum Racing, Inc. and Jim Bausch are tied for the lead with 13 wins each. Charles Hukill follows with 10 victories. Stephen Baker, Nelco Farms, Israel Flores and Richard Bird are tied with nine wins each.

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Offered This Weekend

Racing fans interested in placing a future wager on the 2006 Kentucky Derby will have their final chance this weekend. Sam Houston Race Park will host the last of the three advance-wagering pools for this anticipated event. Wagering will begin on Thursday, April 6 at 11:00 a.m. (CST) and close on Sunday, April 9 at 5:00 p.m. Sam Houston Race Park will dedicate one television channel to broadcasting the odds of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

Lawyer Ron, Barbaro, Brother Derek and Bob and John are among the 23 horses listed as Derby candidates as well as a 24th betting interest, which will cover the mutuel field of all other 3-year-old Thoroughbreds. Wagers are for win betting only, with a minimum $2 wager accepted.

In addition to future wagers on the Kentucky Derby, there will also be a separate wager available on the Kentucky Oaks Future, available Thursday, April 6 at 11:00 a.m. (CST) through Sunday, April 9 at 5:30 p.m. (CST).

Road to the Kentucky Derby Contest Continues at Sam Houston Race Park

Sam Houston Race Park is now in week six of the Road to the Kentucky Derby handicapping contest. The contest started on March 4 and continues every Saturday through April 22. The eight-week contest offers $4,800 in cash prizes and is open to all racing fans, 21-years of age or older.

Contestants will make mythical $2 win and place wagers on all of the major prep races leading to the Kentucky Derby. Registration begins every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. until the official deadline, which will be prior to the post time of the first contest race.

The winners will be determined by the highest cumulative bankroll from all $2 win and place bets from each week’s contest. The contest is not limited to VIP Club members, but the prize money is double for all winning finishers who are members. The winner, if a VIP member will receive $1,000, second place finisher will receive $500, $300 will go the third place contestant and the fourth place participant will be awarded $200. Non-VIP Club members will receive $500 for first place, $250 for second, $150 for third and $100 for fourth. Weekly prizes will also be awarded to the three highest weekly bankrolls.

VIP Member Tim Lim was awarded $200 for finishing first in week five of the contest. Lim’s total bankroll was $15.60. Will Tisdale, also a VIP Member, was awarded $100 for his second place finish, and Debbie Graves received $50.

To become a VIP Club Member, visit the Player’s Lounge in the Grandstand or call 281-807-8760. More information regarding the Road to the Kentucky Derby handicapping contest may also be obtained by calling 281-807-8760, or by visiting www.shrp.com.

VIP Club and April Specials at Sam Houston Race Park

In conjunction with the great racing and fantastic excitement for the Connally Breeders’ Cup Turf Festival on Saturday, April 8, VIP Members will have a chance to win a $500 betting voucher. VIP Members may swipe their VIP Club Card at any of the VIP kiosks before the sixth race on Saturday to register for the drawing. The $500 wagering voucher is awarded for the patron to make any type of wager desired on the $200,000 Grade III John B. Connally Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Other VIP Club specials include double player points on all wagers placed on Sam Houston Race Park’s live race card, and buy one carrel get one free on Mondays. The private betting carrels are located in the Player’s Lounge, a state-of-the-art race book and sports bar.

Free admission is a perk all simulcast patrons will enjoy. After the conclusion of the live Thoroughbred meeting at the northwest Houston racetrack on Sunday, April 9, all simulcast patrons will be admitted free for the remainder of the month.

For more information or to become a VIP Club Member, call 281-807-8760 or visit www.shrp.com.