Sam Houston Race Park will be hosting the annual Houston Betting Championship on January 25.

HOUSTON, TX–DECEMBER 13, 2024–Sam Houston Race Park is pleased to announce that the 2nd annual Houston Betting Championship will take place on Saturday, January 25 as the signature wagering event of the Houston Racing Festival.  The event will be hosted by Sam Houston Race Park and participation is offered exclusively on-site.

The contest will feature a live money format with a buy-in of $1,500.  There is no entry fee associated with the cost, as the entire $1,500 will be used as the contestant’s bankroll.  Contestants will be required to wager at least $750 on the Sam Houston Race Park live card, which will feature the $300,000 Grade III Houston Ladies Classic and $200,000 Grade III John B. Connally Turf Cup.  Contestants are eligible to wager the remaining $750 in their original bankroll on Sam Houston or select races from Gulfstream Park or Oaklawn Park on that afternoon.

The eligible wagers in the contest are win, place, exacta, trifecta and daily doubles.  A complete list of eligible races and wagers will be released on January 21, 2025.  The prizes will consist of 2 entries to the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge to be held on October 31 and November 1, 2025, at Del Mar as well as 4 entries to the National Horseplayers’ Championship held on March 14-16, 2025, at Horseshoe in Las Vegas for the 2026 NHC.  The Top 6 finishers will have their choice of prize dependent on what is still available.

The 2024 National Horseplayers’ Championship qualifier held at SHRP in January had a field of 101 entries and the expectation is for that number to increase to the capacity of 150.

“We were tremendously impressed by the participation in our two contests last year and are delighted to offer what we consider to be a bigger and better contest this year,” Sam Houston Race Park Vice President and General Manager of Texas operations Bryan Pettigrew said.  “Our staff is committed to making the experience of our contest players the best they have across the country and are looking forward to having many of you here in Houston.”

There are on-track opportunities to qualify for the Houston Betting Championship on December 26, 2024, as well as January 4 & 11, 2025 at a $250 buy-in.  There is no entry fee for those contests as well and the entire $250 is used as a player’s bankroll.  One entry to the HBC is awarded for every 19 participants in the qualifier.  There will be qualifiers on January 18 and January 24 at $500 apiece with both awarding spots to the HBC.  Qualifiers for the HBC will be offered on HorseTourneys (www.horsetourneys.com) as well.

In addition to the graded stakes being offered at Sam Houston on January 25, the card will feature the $100,000 Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile as well as two stakes races for Texas-bred three-year-olds.  Approximately 8 races will be offered from both Gulfstream and Oaklawn Park on January 25.  Those races will be determined the week of the contest.  For more information on the HBC and to sign up, please go to https://www.shrp.com/event/houston-betting-championship

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About Sam Houston Race Park
Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles northwest of downtown Houston. Owned by Penn Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ – PENN), the racetrack, which opened in 1994, offers a variety of attractions for businesses, group outings and families during racing and the off-season. The track is best known for its award-winning dining and features multiple areas for fans looking for casual to upscale dining options including its Winner’s Circle Restaurant, Jockey Club, Luxury Suites and Pavilion Centre. For more information or tickets to upcoming live racing, concerts and events, please visit www.shrp.com or follow on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok or YouTube.

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