LONG AWAITED RACING RETURNS TO TEXAS
Lone Star Park’s Bar and Book reopened today at 10:30 a.m. with occupancy limited to 25% capacity and all appropriate physical distancing measures in place.

The health and safety of patrons and employees continues to be top priority. Lone Star Park personnel will continue to monitor closely all guidelines determined by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as public health advancements. All operational procedures and protocols have been implemented throughout Bar & Book.

Lone Star Park’s 2020 Thoroughbred Racing season also begins today. At this time, racing operations will be conducted with no spectators.  There are 97 horses entered in 9 races with first post at 3:05pm.

Saturday’s overnight shows 102 horses entered in 9 races, with 3 races restricted to Accredited Texas-breds: Race 2, a $17,000 maiden claiming, and races 7 and 9, $35,000 allowance races.

Replays should be available by 4 a.m. the day after each race day. Best of luck to all!

Read more about current operations at Lone Star Park at https://www.lonestartpark.com/reopening/ .

SIMULCASTING AT SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK
Governor Abbott has permitted racetracks to resume simulcasting in the State of Texas under strict COVID-19 prevention guidelines. Preparations are underway at Sam Houston Race Park and they will announce their reopening date soon. Please stay tuned for further details.

TEXAS RACETRACK CHAPLAINCY SAMARITAN EMERGENCY FUND
The COVID-19 crisis has stopped Texas racing in its tracks – yet caretakers in the stable areas across Texas are still hard at work making sure the animal athletes of our sport are under the best care and ready for racing upon its return.

Racetrack chaplains at Retama Park and Sam Houston Race Park are also hard at work arranging for food, prayer and counseling for these critical employees in our sport.

There is an urgent need for food at this time and contributions are needed now. Every contribution helps, large or small.

You can donate online at https://keeptexasrunning.com or mail checks made payable to RTCA-STC and mail to Office of the Chaplain, Retama Park, 1 Retama Parkway, Selma, TX 78154. In the memo portion of your check please note: Samaritan Emergency Fund.

As horsemen, we are all in this together. Take a moment to help others in great need.

TRC APPROVES BREED REGISTRY REQUESTS FOR FUNDING
The Texas Racing Commission met via teleconference on Tuesday, May 19^th.  During the meeting, Commissioners approved several requests from the breed registries for use of funding generated from HB 2463.

The following funding requests, directly related to Thoroughbred breeding and racing, submitted by TTA were approved:

• Modification to Previously Approved 2020 Thoroughbred Meet at Lone Star Park
• Funding for the 2020 Mixed Meet at Retama Park
• Funding for Thoroughbreds at the 2020 Gillespie County Fair Meet
• ATB Breeder Bonus for Placing 1, 2 or 3 in open company races in Texas in 2020
  • The Racing Act was amended in 2002 to provide an ATB Owner Bonus Award for placing 1, 2 or 3 in open company races in Texas.  This measure will do the same for breeders.
• Consignor Incentive for the August 2020 Texas Yearling and Horses of Racing Age Sale
  • All horses passing through the ring at this sale, whether sold or returned to their consignor, will receive a rebate of ½ of the consignment fee.
• ATB Breeder Awards for Eligible Breeders of ATB Racehorses Placing 1, 2 or 3 in Out of State Races in the US in 2020
  • Paid on out of state races ONLY when there is no live racing in Texas, unless the out of state race is a stakes with a minimum purse of $50,000.  Awards for 2020 will be paid out by the end of January 2021 and will be calculated the same as current ATB Breeder Awards.

Other approved funding requests not specifically related to racehorses will be detailed next week.

If you have any questions, please contact Mary Ruyle at 512.458.6133.

NOTES: The Texas Racing Commission will meet via teleconference at 10:30am on Thursday, May 28^th.  All interested parties and the public can log in with any camera-enabled phone, tablet or computer. Participants can also call in for audio only. All attendees are requested to place their device on mute unless and until such time as comment is requested by the Chair and you wish to be identified and allowed to comment. TxRC staff REQUEST that meeting participants wishing to speak before the Commission send an email specifying the exact agenda item to info@txrc.texas.gov at least 24 hours prior. Participants who do not give prior notice of their intention to comment WILL be given the opportunity by the Chair at the appropriate time. It is strongly recommended that participants who have not used GoToMeeting previously visit the link below ahead of time to ensure that everything works correctly on your device.