Sam Houston Race Park will kick off their 2015 Quarter Horse season Friday with 12 trials for the Sam Houston Maiden Classic.

© Coady Photography

HOUSTON, TX—MARCH 23, 2015—Friday’s 350-yard Sam Houston Maiden Classic trials have attracted a total of 112 entries, as Sam Houston Race Park opens its 24-night spring Quarter Horse meet with a 12-race program.

Post time for the first race is set for 7 p.m. (CDT). The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the $15,000-added Sam Houston Maiden Classic final on April 11.

Johnny Trotter’s Eagle Money Pop, a homebred 4-year-old gelding by champion One Famous Eagle, drew post 6 in the third heat. Trained by Trey Wood, Eagle Money Pop is coming off of a sophomore campaign in which he ran third, a neck behind dead-heat winners DB Captain King and Raising Kain, in the 400-yard, $59,000 Adequan Sam Houston Derby Challenge in May.

Sam Houston Race Park’s Quarter Horse meet opens on the heels of its successful 32-date Thoroughbred meet, which ran January 16-March 10 and ended with a 15-percent increase in total wagering handle.

The track’s Quarter Horse stakes schedule features 17 races, including the $100,000-added Bank of America Sam Houston Championship Challenge (G1) on April 18, the $100,000-added Sam Houston Futurity (G2) on April 25, the $50,000 Sam Houston Classic (G2) on May 9, and the $35,000-added Adequan Sam Houston Derby Challenge on closing night, May 16.

All Sam Houston Race Park races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.

Josh Abbott Band Opens Spring Concert Series at Sam Houston Race Park

The 2015 American Quarter Horse Meet will feature the entertaining post-race concert series announce the 2015 Post Race Concert Series on the Bud Light stage, will take place most Saturdays beginning on March 28 and concluding on May 16. These live performances are free with $7 live racing admission before 8 pm, and $20 after 8 pm. Tickets purchased on line in advance are just $14 for after 8pm entry. The following performers will follow the last of 10 Quarter Horse races each evening.

• March 28 - Josh Abbott Band
• April 11 - Easton Corbin
• April 18 - Roger Creager
• May 1 - Jason Boland and the Stragglers
• May 9 - Casey Donahew Band
• May 16 - Cody Johnson* - Special Concert on Preakness Day also featuring Cory Morrow and Gary P. Nunn

Tickets are available online at www.shrp.com, at participating Houston-area Randall’s locations, or by calling 800-211-3381.

Post times for the 2015 Quarter Horse Meet are set for Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 6 p.m. Special 1 p.m. post times are set for Saturday, May 2 (Kentucky Derby); Sunday, May 10, (Mother's Day); and Saturday, May 16,( Preakness), the final day of the meet.

Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 minutes from downtown Houston, and offers a variety of attractions including 16 recently renovated luxury suites overlooking the race track, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at the Winner’s Circle Restaurant and Jockey Club. For more information on upcoming shows, events and tickets, please visit www.shrp.com.