A Texas racing doubleheader on Saturday allowed horsemen, jockeys and fans to enjoy live racing at both the Gillespie County Fair in Fredericksburg and Retama Park in Selma.

SELMA, TX–JULY 21, 2026–Central Texas was a haven for racing on Saturday, July 18 as a successful double-header took place between the Gillespie County Fair and Retama Park.  The action began at Gillespie, where an 8-race card featured a post time of 1:00 PM.  Retama kicked off an 8-race card at 7:00 PM to accommodate horsemen participating at both venues.

“We are delighted to see that the two cards went off perfectly and are appreciative of the management and staff at Gillespie’s willingness to work together,” Retama Park Vice President and General Manager Bryan Pettigrew said.  “It was a great experience for fans who enjoyed both and the handle numbers at each venue show outstanding participation.”

Gillespie had just over $125,000 in handle on an 8-race card that concluded with the Texas Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes.  The 2024 Texas-bred Horse of the Year Too Much Action took top honors, surging late to win as the 9-5 favorite in a field of eight.

Retama Park hosted camel, ostrich and zebra racing for the second consecutive night on Saturday.  Over 6,000 fans attended the evening’s program and handle soared to a meet-high $145,123.40 on-track.  Total handle at Retama on Saturday was over $639,702.

Veteran jockey Victor Urieta, Jr. was among those that participated in both programs, riding both the nightcap at Gillespie and the opener at Retama Park.  He won two races at Gillespie, including the GCFA Thoroughbred Maiden Classic, and the opener at Retama.

“It was an exciting day that worked out to be very successful,” Urieta, Jr. said.  “Everything went off really good and I am thankful to be able to participate at both tracks.”

Beautiful weather conditions ensured large crowds at both venues after rain earlier in the week dogged most of the area.  This was the first time racing had been conducted at both Gillespie and Retama since before the COVID pandemic of 2020.

“We would like to thank the Texas Racing Commission and its staff for their hard work in facilitating such a special day in our great State,” Pettigrew added.

About Retama Park
Retama Park is a Class 1 pari-mutuel horse racetrack located in Selma, Texas, just 15 miles from downtown San Antonio. Live Quarter Horse races take place each summer, while simulcast wagering and races from around the world are shown daily. Managed by Penn Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ – PENN), Retama Park opened in 1995 and hosted its 30th year of racing in 2024. For more information and racing schedules, please visit www.RetamaPark.com follow on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube.