Lone Star Park concluded its 29th Spring Thoroughbred Racing season July 13, handling a daily average of $247,453 in live on-track handle and a daily average of $162,976 in export handle over the 41-day meet, which were both increases over 2024 figures by 2% and 5%, respectively. Attendance for the meet increased 7% over 2024.
Season Highlights
The highlight of the meet was Lone Star Million Day on Memorial Day, generating the highest on-track handle of the meet with $788,805 wagered from 5,521 fans on what turned out to be a wet and sloppy day. The day that generated the highest export handle was the June 28 Summer Turf Festival card, generating $343,964 off-track. The July 4 Lone Stars & Stripes Fireworks Festival was the day that brought the most fans to the Grand Prairie, Texas, track with an attendance of 11,913.
"The numbers are encouraging and we're proud of these results," says Merlinda Fleming, vice president of operations at Lone Star Park. "The fans showed up and we look for this momentum to continue into our upcoming fall Quarter Horse season and next year's Thoroughbred season."
Season Leaders
Ramon Vazquez had a good return to full-time riding at Lone Star Park. Vazquez ended the meet with 55 wins, taking the honors of leading jockey for the second time. His other leading jockey title at Lone Star Park came when he won 58 races during the 2020 season. The veteran jockey picked up some impressive wins during the 41-day race meet, including a win in the year's preeminent race, the $400,000 Steve Sexton Mile (G3) aboard Komorebino Omoide. Vazquez was also in the irons for Usually Wrong's win in the $100,000 Chamberlain Bridge Stakes and record setting performance in the $125,000 Grand Prairie Turf Sprint.
After accepting his award, Vazquez said, "I was asked by (Robertino) Diodoro to come down here to ride first call. You know, I love to ride for Diodoro, and that's why I came back to Texas. I'm so happy to be here, and I am grateful for the opportunity from all the trainers that have me ride."
The meet ended with End Zone Athletics being named leading owner for the fifth consecutive year at Lone Star Park. There was no doubt that End Zone Athletics would take the title entering the final day of racing, having a lead of ten races over the runner-up, Steve Asmussen. This year's leading owner title, with a total of 22 wins, put End Zone Athletics at the top of the list for most leading owner titles at Lone Star Park. This is the ninth time that End Zone Athletics has been the leading owner, surpassing Tom Durant's eight titles.
Heading into the final race day of the meet, the title of leading trainer had yet to be determined. With 32 wins headed into the last day, Lone Star Park's all-time leading trainer, Steve Asmussen, had a two-race lead over Abel Ramirez-Rodriguez. Both trainers had the opportunity to add to their win total with multiple runners on the closing day card. Asmussen was able to clinch the training title after multiple stakes winner Noem Beach, with Erik Asmussen aboard, won the seventh race bringing his win total to 33 for the meet. This is the 18th time that Asmussen has been honored as the meet's leading trainer.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
