HOUSTON, TX- Sam Houston Race Park presents Texas Champions Day on Saturday, March 22celebrating Texas breeders, owners, trainers, jockeys, and of course, the incredible Thoroughbreds of Texas. While many of the races will mark the debut of racehorses, the one mile $75,000 Star of Texas, presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), will showcase some of the most enduring champions in our state.
Dust Em, a 7-year-old son of Too Much Bling, bred by Douglas Scharbauer will make his 43rd lifetime start for owner Carl R. Moore Management, LLC. Karen Jacks has been training the hard-knocking gelding for the past two years. She saddled him in his victory here on February 15 in the $82,000 David Hooper Stakes. He was returning to action off a six-month layoff, but rallied with conviction under rider Floyd Wethey, Jr.
“That was a tough race,” said Jacks. “He’s on his toes and ready for his next start!”
Dust Em, the morning line favorite at odds of 8-5, drew the rail post under Wethey and is poised to break the half-million dollar mark in earnings here on Saturday afternoon.
Horseplayers have learned to never overlook Gold Pilot and the defending champion, who defeated Dust Em in last year’s edition by a neck, returns in search of his eighth main track score at Sam Houston Race Park.
Prominent Texas owners Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch purchased the son of My Golden Song out of the Early Flyer Mare Formal Flyer for just $15,000 at the 2018 TTA Yearling and Mixed Sale and his bankroll has swelled to $465,466 in 30 career efforts at Sam Houston, Lone Star Park and Remington Park. He was a dominant winner here last month in the $75,000 Houston Turf Stakes, shifted to the main track, much to the delight of trainer Bret Calhoun.
“He’s incredible,” stated Calhoun. “The only problem he has ever had was with his feet. Bruises and abscesses have cropped up over the years, but when he’s sound, look out. He destroyed that field in his last race; this is a much tougher group, but his class has been there from the beginning.”
Jose Alvarez has the return call aboard Gold Pilot, who has earned $465,466 in 30 career efforts at Sam Houston, Lone Star Park and Remington Park.
James Stodola’s Victory for Vets is the youngest runner of the top trio, but has been prominent in each of his stakes appearances at Sam Houston Race Park with a win in the 2024 Texas Thoroughbred Association Derby.
Also trained by Calhoun, The 4-year-old son of Tapiture, out of the Smart Strike mare Diamondinthestream was bred in Texas by AsmussenEquine.com and was purchased by Stodola for $70,000 at the 2023 Texas 2-Year-Old Training Sale. Current leading rider Stewart Elliott will guide the chestnut colt, who has already banked $225,885in 14 career efforts. Victory for Vets was recently named 2024 Texas Thoroughbred Association Champion 3-Year-old Colt/ Gelding.
“He’s never done anything wrong in his career,” said Calhoun when commenting on Victory for Vets.
That could also be said of his jockey Stewart Elliott, who has won 5,825 races in the past four decades.
The Star of Texas runs as the seventh event on the card and the trophy will be presented by a representative from Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, a national organization raising awareness and garnering support for accredited aftercare. The winning connections will receive a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance gift bag with branded merchandise.
“We are very excited to welcome back Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance on Texas Champions Day,” said Bryan Pettigrew, Vice President and General Manager of Texas Racing Operations, Sam Houston Park. “As advocates for accredited Thoroughbred aftercare, we continue to support their mission.”
The Star of Texas runs as the seventh event on the card and the trophy will be presented by a representative from Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, a national organization raising awareness and garnering support for accredited aftercare. The winning connections will receive a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance gift bag with branded merchandise.
“We are very excited to welcome back Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance on Texas Champions Day,” said Bryan Pettigrew, Vice President and General Manager of Texas Racing Operations, Sam Houston Park. “As advocates for accredited Thoroughbred aftercare, we continue to support their mission.”
Texas Champions Day Special Events
In addition to the exciting live racing card, which includes seven stakes for Texas Thoroughbreds, several events are planned throughout the day.
First Responders and Military Appreciation Day
Free admission for the men and women who have served our country and valiantly protect our community
in life-threatening situations and traumatic events. Representatives from the following organizations will be at the races on Saturday:
· Harris County Precinct 4
· United States Marines
Texas Horse Industry
There will be dedicated industry representatives on hand celebrating the Texas Horse Industry with educational exhibits for fans of all ages. Particpants include:
· Solitude Thoroughbred Ranch, sharing information about “Nags to Riches” and their horse operations in Texas.
· Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame will be promoting the 2025 Hall of Fame Inductees, including Larry Craft, Bill Melson, Joe Peacock, Sr. and Joe Peacock, Jr., Mike Rutherford alongside Quarter Horse – Havanah Goodtime and Thoroughbred – Too Much Bling.
· Lonestar Outreach to Place Ex-Racehorses (LOPE) will offer its popular “Youth Learning Lab” for free. Future Farmers Association, 4-H Clubs and area Houston youth will get a behind the scenes tours of horse racing during the LOPE Learning Lab.
Moment of Silence in Honor of Gordon Johnson
Sam Houston Race Park will observe a Moment of Silence in Honor of Gordon Johnson, a longtime racing lawmaker that helped craft the Texas Racing Act and several bills and rules benefitting the horse racing industry in Texas.