(Austin, TX) – At Wednesday’s Texas Racing Commission meeting, Sam Houston Park General Manager Dwight Berube confirmed that the Houston area track will apply for 43 live race dates in 2023, beginning January 6th.  The 2023 Texas live racing schedule will be similar to 2022, as Lone Star Park has already applied for 48 days.

While plans for the overall stakes program have not been finalized, the 2023 race meet at Sam Houston will feature the inaugural running of the $100,000 Texas Thoroughbred Association Derby and Oaks for graduates of the 2021 TTA Yearling Sale and 2022 TTA Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale.  The schedule will also include 10 Texas-bred stakes and two legs of the Clarence Schaubauer, Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes.

“With Monday’s Texas Thoroughbred Association Yearling Sale on the immediate horizon, we appreciate the continued support of the Texas tracks,” TTA Executive Director Mary Ruyle said.  “On Monday, we will offer more than 200 yearlings, which is the most in recent history.  Over the past couple years, we have made great strides in the quality of racing in Texas.”