Retama Park will celebrate the Independence Day Weekend with High Stakes Caliber Trials, a Graded Stakes race, and fun for the whole family on the Fourth of July.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

SELMA, TX–JULY 1, 2026–Retama Park will celebrate the Independence Day holiday with two nights of live Quarter Horse racing, major stakes events, fireworks displays, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities throughout the July 2-4 weekend.

Retama Park Racing Secretary, Mike Acton, announced, "This coming Thursday is the TQHA Sale Futurity trials, and Friday will host the Retama Derby presented by 440 Equine trials, along with the Grade 3 Selma Stakes. We will also have two nights of fireworks displays, making for great times to be had at Retama Park."

Thursday's program will feature 88 juveniles competing in nine trial heats, all hoping to earn one of ten spots in the $683,700 TQHA Sale Futurity-RG1 finals, which will be contested Saturday, July 25, following the second day of the TQHA Yearling Sale.

Friday's card shifts to the sophomores as 26 three-year-olds compete in three trial heats for ten berths in the $181,000 Retama Park Derby presented by 440 Equine finals. The evening will conclude with the running of the $50,000 Grade 3 Selma Stakes.

In addition to live racing, fans will enjoy live entertainment from the Broken Duck Feet Band throughout the evening, followed by a fireworks display after the final race. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with the first post scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

While there will be no live racing on Saturday, July 4, Retama Park will host its free Stars & Stripes Spectacular presented by University Health Retama Hospital. The family-friendly celebration commemorates America's 250th Independence Day with a 21-minute patriotic fireworks show, live music by Dakota Avenue, family activities, horse rides, a CarfestSA car show, a Most Patriotic Hat Contest, local vendors, and more.

"Live horse racing has always been at the heart of what we do, but so is giving back to the community that has supported Retama Park for decades," said Bryan Pettigrew, Vice President and General Manager of Retama Park Race Track. "We're honored to partner with University Health Retama Hospital to provide a free event where families can celebrate Independence Day together in a fun, safe, and welcoming environment."

"We appreciate Retama Park hosting this fun-filled Independence Day event and look forward to meeting many of our new neighbors on the Northeast Side," said Jeremy Riney, CEO of University Health Retama Hospital. "This is a great opportunity to introduce the community to the many healthcare services we will be providing when our 147-bed hospital opens in the first quarter of next year."

Gates open at 6:00 p.m., with the fireworks show scheduled to begin at approximately 9:00 p.m. Guests can enjoy free on-site parking along with both indoor and outdoor seating.

With a full weekend of high-stakes caliber trials on tap, several established black-type performers and rising stars headline the major events.

$683,700 TQHA SALE FUTURITY-RG1 TRIALS
The nine TQHA Sale Futurity trials feature several accomplished juveniles looking to secure a return trip for the Grade 1 finals.

Whoopie Cowgirl is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the third trial after making a big splash earlier this season in Louisiana with her victory in the Laddie Futurity-G2. Breaking from the rail under Nestor Duran, the daughter of Flying Cowboy 123 will look to rebound following an eighth-place finish in the Texas Breeders' Futurity. She has compiled two wins and one second from four starts while earning more than $160,000.

Although not favored in his trial, JJ Kiss (7-2) remains one to watch. The son of Kiss My Hocks has already qualified to two stakes races during his young career, finishing third in the Sam Houston Futurity-G2 in his last start after reaching the finals of the West Texas Futurity-G2. He brings a record of two wins and one third from four starts with $87,468 in earnings and will break from post five under Nestor Duran.

Coronas First Cowboy is the 2-1 favorite in the fifth trial after qualifying for two stakes finals this season, finishing fourth in the Sam Houston Futurity-G2 and fifth in the Texas Breeders' Futurity. The son of Flying Cowboy 123 returns with regular rider Luis Vivanco from the outside post, seeking his fourth career victory while adding to his $85,347 bankroll.

Apollitical Cowboy is another strong contender in the sixth trial. The son of Flying Cowboy 123 shipped to Texas and finished second in the Texas Breeders' Futurity after placing fifth in the Laddie Futurity-G2. Listed at 5-2 on the morning line, he will break from the outside post under Nestor Duran with one win, two seconds, and $142,801 in earnings from four starts.

The headline performer of the trials is unbeaten Cowboys Flying, the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the seventh trial. Breaking from post nine under Nestor Duran, the son of Flying Cowboy 123 enters off his victory in the Texas Breeders' Futurity and will attempt to remain undefeated while adding to his $245,746 in earnings.

$181,000 RETAMA PARK DERBY TRIALS PRESENTED BY 440 EQUINE
Three trial heats will determine the ten finalists for the Retama Park Derby.

Royalist headlines the opening trial as the 9-5 morning-line favorite. Breaking from post six under Luis Vivanco, the son of Corona Cartel won his first two starts this season, including a track-record performance while qualifying fastest to the Sam Houston Derby-G3 before finishing second in the finals. He owns three wins and four seconds from 10 starts with more than $96,000 in earnings.

Starting immediately to his outside in post seven is 5-2 favorite VP Dash For Texas with Nestor Duran aboard. The son of PYC Prize Time enters off a runner-up finish in the Sam Houston Derby Challenge and has won four of 12 starts while banking $71,508.

Ring A Ling Ding is the 2-1 favorite in the second trial after facing tough stakes company throughout the season. The son of Pa Cha Ching finished third in the West Texas Derby-G3 and fourth in the Sam Houston Derby-G3. He has four wins and four thirds from 11 starts with earnings of $94,512 and will once again have Nestor Duran in the saddle.

The final trial features 2-1 favorite Litenin, who will break from post eight under Raul Hernandez Jr. The son of Class King enters off a third-place finish in the Sam Houston Derby-G3 and has won four of 11 career starts while earning nearly $92,000.

Also worth watching in the final trial is 5-2 favorite The Valiant Flame with Jose Herbert aboard. The son of Louisiana Cartel is the only horse entered in the Derby trials to have won a stakes race this season, capturing the Sam Houston Derby Challenge. He has won three of seven starts and earned $62,274.

$50,000 GRADE 3 SELMA STAKES
A competitive field of older fillies and mares will square off in Friday night's Grade 3 Selma Stakes.

Morning-line favorite Bludz Valiant Policy is listed at 5-2 and will break from post eight under Luis Vivanco. The daughter of Apollitical Blood has finished in the money in six of seven starts with four victories and nearly $92,000 in earnings. She enters off a runner-up finish in the Sam Houston Oaks.

Jess Louisiana Girl is the 4-1 second choice and will break from the outside post under Claudio Aguilar. Her lone start this season resulted in a third-place finish in the Miss Sam Houston Stakes after closing out 2025 with a victory in the Yellow Rose of Texas Stakes. The seasoned daughter of Chilitos owns a record of four wins, three seconds, and four thirds from 16 starts while earning $136,566.

At 8-1 on the morning line, Di KVN Waven brings the richest résumé into the 350-yard stakes with nearly $304,000 in earnings. The daughter of KVN Corona captured last year's Sires' Cup Futurity-RG2 and exits a fifth-place finish in the Sam Houston Derby-G3. With Oliver Martinez aboard, the five-time winner will be looking to add another stakes victory to her record.

The races at Retama Park can be viewed on Q-Racing Video. In addition to the Q-Racing platform, Retama simulcast betting is available nationwide across all export wagering platforms, tracks, and off-track betting establishments, as well as Advance Deposit Wagering platforms where available.

ABOUT RETAMA PARK
Retama Park is a Class 1 pari-mutuel horse racetrack located in Selma, Texas, just 15 minutes 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 is hosting its 31st season of horse racing in 2026. For more information and racing schedules, please visit www.RetamaPark.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.