from weiner dog races TO record wagering nights, the selma track blended community spirit, entertainment, and competitive racing for a memorable season

© Jack Coady Photography

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

The 2025 Retama Park Quarter Horse live racing season concluded on Saturday, August 16, closing out a successful meet for horsemen and fans alike. The track once again combined competitive racing with fan-friendly promotions throughout the meet, drawing crowds to enjoy camel and ostrich races, Family Fun Night, the City of Selma’s Fireworks Show, the Americus Diamonds “Diamond Dig,” Wiener Dog Races, Military Thursdays, live entertainment, and more.

The annual TQHA Yearling Sale on July 25-26, held alongside the meet’s richest race, the $620,000 TQHA Sale Futurity (RG1), further strengthened attendance and engagement throughout the season.

For the 2025 season as a whole, Retama Park’s live wagering on-track rose 2.3 percent compared to 2024. Export wagering through off-track outlets climbed 6.0 percent from last year, reflecting growth in outside participation; however, attendance numbers dipped slightly from the record-setting crowd totals of 2024. Vice President and General Manager Bryan Pettigrew noted, “The meet still held strong despite the challenges of road construction near the track and the loss of the July 4 program due to inclement weather.”

Closing weekend highlighted the upward trend in wagering, with Saturday’s program producing $194,954 in on-track handle—the highest since 2011 and the fourth-largest in track history. A crowd of 5,320 turned out for the festive evening, which blended Quarter Horse racing with the ever-popular Wiener Dog Races.

Between the horse races, six heats of Wiener Dog trials were contested, which ended in a $500 cash prize final won by Corny, whose owner credited the victory by saying, “It’s all about the squeaker.” He added that he hopes to return with Corny for next year’s competition.

The final two nights of the meet featured a strong lineup of stakes competition. On Friday, the $40,710 Texas Arabian Derby-G2 was followed by the $54,978 AQHA Retama Championship Challenge-G3. Saturday’s card began with the $30,237 Colors Of the Wind Paint and Appaloosa Maturity and $61,590 Colors Of the Wind Paint and Appaloosa Futurity; ending with the $223,000 TQHA Sires’ Cup Futurity-RG2, and the $110,000 TQHA Sires’ Cup Derby.

The meet closed with the announcement of the season’s leaders. Jimenas Ranch claimed leading owner honors with six wins from 14 starters, edging Three Bar T Quarter Horses, who finished with five victories from only eight starts.

Trainer Raul Ramirez, who accepted the award on behalf of Jimenas Ranch, said, “I’m very proud to receive this award, especially because it’s for my owners, who won the Retama Park Derby. We came in with a goal — we didn’t expect it — but we gave our best, and in the end we achieved it.”

In the trainers’ race, Jose Sanchez prevailed with 12 wins from 56 starters, finishing four ahead of Roberto Madrigal and John Stinebaugh, who tied for second with eight wins apiece.

“Five years ago, I was fortunate to be the leading trainer at Lone Star Park. I thank God for blessing me with this opportunity, and I’m grateful to my entire team, the owners, and everyone who has supported me along the way. Because of them, we are where we are today,” stated Sanchez.

Jockey Nestor Duran was crowned leading jockey with 27 wins from 106 mounts and earned more than $463,000 in purses, edging Eddie Sanchez’s 22 victories.

On the Arabian side, Jernesto Torres led all trainers with six wins, while Nicole and Andre Ruggeri shared the leading owner title with Rosebrook Farms, last year’s champion, as each stable finished with five wins.

Racing Secretary Mike Acton summed up the season by saying, “The 2025 Retama Park meet had its challenges and rewards. A huge thanks to our horsemen and women who make racing great here in Selma, Texas.”

WEEKEND STAKES RACING RECAPS
Click on the race below to read the published story.
$223,000 TQHA Sires Cup Futurity-RG2
$110,000 TQHA Sires’ Cup Derby
$54,978 AQHA Racing Championship Challenge Stakes-G3
$61,590 Colors of the Alamo Paint and Appaloosa Futurity
$30,237 Colors of the Alamo Paint and Appaloosa Maturity

ABOUT RETAMA PARK
Retama Park is a Class 1 pari-mutuel horse racetrack located in Selma, Texas, just 20 minutes from downtown San Antonio. Live Quarter Horse races take place each summer (June 26 to August 16, 2025), 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 30^th season of horse racing in 2025. For more information and racing schedules, please visit www.RetamaPark.com follow on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube.

*******************

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.