All of us in the Texas racing industry lost a dear friend and valued coworker Monday evening with the passing of Samuel “Sammy” Jackson. With his family at his side, Sammy passed away yesterday at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center after a prolonged illness. Sammy held a variety of positions with the Texas Racing Commission since joining the agency in 1994, and most recently served as the Deputy Director for Finance and Wagering. Sammy was admired for his sense of humor and his encyclopedic knowledge of pari-mutuel issues, both within the agency and throughout the racing industry. Sammy will be greatly missed and our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.