By Martha Claussen

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX—OCTOBER 6, 2015—Suffice it to say, this has been a challenging year for Texas horseracing. But the dust has settled and the Texas Racing Commission was granted funding. That was very good news for Lone Star Park as their 2015 Fall Meeting of Champions is off and running!

Quarter Horses are the main attraction of the 26-day live racing season, which continues through November 14. The racetrack, located in Grand Prairie, Texas, 15 minutes from DFW Airport, will host the 2015 Bank of America Challenge Championships in the first weekend of November.

Quarter Horse Meet Features Richest Race in Texas

The meet will feature a total of 29 stakes worth an estimated $3.425 million including eight Grade 1 races. Major stakes include the $75,000 Refrigerator Handicap, the Dash for Cash Derby and Futurity and the $1 million Texas Classic Futurity. The Texas Classic is the richest race in Texas, and attracts the top horses in the country.

Last year's Texas Classic Futurity winner was Terry & Irene Stennett's Torts On Fire, who gave trainer Trey Wood his second title in the prestigious race. Scarlett Hill Farms Inc.'s Lil Famous Dash, trained by Judd Kearl, won the Grade 1, Texas Classic Derby.

Jockey, Trainer and Owners to Watch

Judd Kearl has won the Lone Star Park training title four times, and is back with a full barn. Trey Wood, who has his base of operation in Brock, Texas, is always dangerous as is Texas native, Toby Keeton. Brian Stroud is the conditioner of 2014 AQHA world champion, Jrc Callas First. Based on that noted accomplishment, his stable doubled in 2015. He was the third-leading conditioner last year at Lone Star and a close second to Angel Sanchez earlier in the year at Sam Houston Race Park.

Luis Vivanco won his first Lone Star riding title last fall, and returns for several prominent horsemen. Ricky Ramirez, who rides first call for the Wood barn, was leading rider in 2014 and Rodrigo Vallejo will be named on the lion's share of the Kearl runners. Damian Martinez won the riding title at Sam Houston Race Park and his victories on Jrc Callas First gave the young pilot a ton of confidence this year. Another rider coming up in the ranks is Francisco Calderon.

Wagering and Contests

Handicappers can take advantage of many wagering options offered at Lone Star Park. In addition to the standard WPS and exactas, rolling doubles, Pick 3's and 10-cent superfectas remain popular. New this year is the introduction of 50-cent minimum trifecta wagers. The "Fortune 6" wager is offered at the industry-low takeout of 12%.

Lone Star Park has an excellent program called the Star Player Rewards for their handicapping players. Enrollment is free and members simply swipe their card to receive points for wagering as well as food and drink purchases. Rewards include free programs, valet parking, food and beverage credits and mutuel vouchers.

For the past eight years, Lone Star Park has hosted a qualifying event for the DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship. They will send the top two finishers from the three Championship Tournaments to the 2016 DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas.

Bar & Book Big Hit with Fans

Lone Star Park opened its Post Time Pavilion simulcast center in May, 1996, eleven months before the track held its first live race meet. In 2011, a major renovation ensued resulting in the highly acclaimed Bar & Book, a free-standing race and sports center.

The 36,000 square foot facility serves as a simulcast center for horseplayers as well as a sports bar and casual dining restaurant to attract sporting fans of every genre. The state-of-the art complex can accommodate up to 237 customers with individual betting carrels and televisions. Enhancements include a non-smoking area, a tiered level, including 30 lounge chairs and two VIP and multi-user interactive touchscreen televisions integrated into a table in the Sports Bar.

The Bar & Book, a multi-million dollar investment, has been extremely popular in the Dallas Metroplex area. Racing fans have a comprehensive menu of tracks to bet, admission is free and poker aficionados can play free poker every Thursday in the World Poker Tour Amateur Poker League. Plus, the bar offers a selection of 12 draft beers!

Bank of America Challenge Championships

The Bank of America Challenge Championships is a national racing program, similar to the Breeders' Cup, with a culminating year-end championship weekend.

The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) selects racetracks across the country to serve as host. The event, set for November 6 and 7, will return to Lone Star Park for the fifth time. If you are in Dallas, come out and experience the excitement live. Either way, be sure to follow the Wrangler Racing Aces @HorseRacingAces for updates on each of the six championships. Also, be sure to visit Horseplayernow.com their annual Bank of America Challenge Guide with analysis and expert selections.

Article reprinted courtesy Horseplayernow.com.

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Martha Claussen is the coordinator of the Wrangler Racing Aces Fan Education initiative of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). She served as publicity director at Sam Houston Race Park from 1997-2007 and continues to be active in writing, fan education and Quarter Horse racing publicity in Texas, Louisiana and other regions in North America.