HOUSTON, TX—MAY 3, 2016—Sam Houston Race Park will present an action-packed weekend of live racing and the always thrilling simulcast of the 142nd Running of the Kentucky Derby.

Live racing resumes on Friday, May 6 at 7:00 pm with the popular 50 cent Beer Friday from 6-9 pm. On Friday, racing fans will be able to enjoy the running of the Grade 1, $1 million Kentucky Oaks from Churchill Downs as well as place advance wagers on Saturday's Kentucky Derby card.

To coincide with the Kentucky Derby, Sam Houston Race Park will host a special 1:00 p.m. afternoon live racing program on Saturday, May 7, which will include two stakes, the $50,000 Sam Houston Classic (G2) and the $25,000 Governors' Cup Marathon (see related story).

Finally, on Sunday, May 8, Sam Houston Race Park will offer a special live racing program in honor of Mother's Day. First post is 1:00 p.m. with a sumptuous Mother's Day Brunch offered in the Winner's Circle Restaurant.

Festivities Set for the 142nd Kentucky Derby Simulcast at Sam Houston Race Park

Sam Houston Race Park invites Houstonians to celebrate the heritage, fashion and excitement of racing’s most prestigious day with the 142nd Running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 7. The day-long sporting and social event will include live Quarter Horse racing, simulcast of the entire race card from Churchill Downs, a Kentucky Derby Hat Contest, traditional Mint Juleps, and Derby merchandise!

Dubbed "the most exciting two minutes in sports", this year's edition of the Kentucky Derby is shaping up to be a very competitive event. With the fourth year of the point system in place to determine qualifying positions, Gun Runner, trained by Steve Asmussen, tops the standings with 151 points. Asmussen, who has won the Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred training title eight times, also will saddle Arkansas Derby victor, Creator. Other Thoroughbreds receiving attention include Nyquist from the barn of Doug O'Nelll; Exxagerator, trained by Keith Desormeaux and ridden by his brother, Kent and Mo Tom, trained by Tom Amoss, who won two turf stakes in the 2016 Thoroughbred meet at Sam Houston Race Park.

Patrons will have an opportunity to enjoy all the Kentucky Derby festivities as well as 11 live American Quarter Horse races.

Fans of all ages are encouraged to wear their favorite Kentucky Derby hat and register for the Kentucky Derby Hat contest beginning at 11:30 am. Judging will take place following the fourth live race (approximately 2:30 pm). The panel of celebrity judges will award prizes to the top three patrons with a $500 first prize to the winner!

The schedule of events is as follows:

• 9:00 a.m. Gates Open
• 9:30 a.m. First race from Churchill Downs
• 11:00 a.m. Buffet Opens
• 11:30 a.m. Hat Contest Registration Begins
• 1:05 p.m. First Live Sam Houston Race
• 2:30 p.m. Kentucky Derby Hat Contest Judging
• 5:34 p.m. Running of the 142nd Kentucky Derby

For those unable to be a part of the festivities on Saturday, Sam Houston Race Park will offer advance wagering on Friday, May 6 from 9:00 a.m. until closing. Fans can also take advantage of "Kentucky Derby Early Bird Wagering" where they can place a bet by driving to the valet parking circle from 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. on Saturday.

For more information, call 281-807-8760 or visit www.shrp.com.

Judd Kearl and Rodrigo Vallejo Remain on Top at Sam Houston Race Park

Trainer Judd Kearl continues to lead in the trainer standings for the 2016 Sam Houston Quarter Horse meet with 27 wins. He won his first Sam Houston leading trainer title in 2006, and is poised to clinch his seventh when the meet wraps on May 16. Angel Sanchez, who was the top conditioner here for the past two years, is second with 17 wins. Leon Bard follows with 14 wins and Brian Stroud is fourth with 9 victories.

Kearl's first call rider, Rodrigo Vallejo is the leading jockey with 24 wins following the first six weeks of the racing season. Francisco Calderon and Luis Vivanco are battling it out for second in the standings with 22 wins each. Luis Ramirez rounds out the top four with 10 trips to the winner's circle.

Pete A. Scarmardo is the leader in the owner standings with seven wins, including a victory in Saturday's $26,100 Merial Texas Distaff Challenge with Time for Wine. Jorge Haddad is second with five wins. John Boegner remains in third place with four wins this meet.

Roger Creager Wraps up the Q Morning Zoo Concert Series at Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday, May 14

The entertaining 2016 Post Race Concert Series on the Bud Light stage concludes on May 14 with Roger Creager. The concert is FREE with $7 live racing admission before 8pm, and $20 after 8pm at the gate. Save $6 (Just $14) on after 8pm admission by purchasing tickets online in advance at shrp.com.

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Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles from downtown Houston, and offers a variety of attractions including our Suite Level presented by Draft Kings, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at the Winner’s Circle Restaurant and the Jockey Club. For more information on upcoming group events, racing events, shows and tickets, please visit www.shrp.com.