Track History

Pre Opening Years

1987—After a 50-year absence, pari-mutuel wagering is legalized in Texas.

1988—San Antonio Racing Association was formed. The original association included David Straus, Joe Straus Jr., Red McCombs and Marty Wender.

1989—San Antonio Racing Association was dissolved.

1989—The Retama Park Association was formed and began the land acquisition process, purchasing an option to buy the 488 acre Retama Polo Center, contingent upon a reduction in the pari-mutuel tax and a Class 1 license being awarded to the association. The initial investors in the Retama Park Association were Joe Straus Jr., David Straus and Jerry Carroll.

June 1991—Texas Racing Act was amended, calling for a reduction in pari-mutuel tax and allowing inter-track wagering and simulcasting.

October 1991—A total of $19 million was raised from approximately 140 limited partners in a private placement. Retama Park was granted a Class 1 license by the Texas Racing Commission after the application was amended, moving the site from the polo property to the I-35 frontage property. Retama Park Association was amended to become the general partner of the racetrack. The new investors became limited partners in Retama Partners, Ltd.

April 1993 —Final equity solicitations were undertaken prior to bond sale.

December 21, 1993—Financing for Retama Park was completed with the receipt of $56.2 million of proceeds from the sale of tax-exempt municipal bonds through the City of Selma’s Retama Development Corporation.

January 3, 1994—Construction on the racetrack site begins.

June 13, 1994— "Barn Party" for horsemen, media and other guests held at construction site when Barn #3 was completed.

August 1, 1994 —Traditional "Topping Out" celebration held when grandstand reaches highest point.

1995

April 7—Retama Park opens for its inaugural season of racing.

April 11— Keeneland 2-year-old sale held at Retama Park with sales totals of over $2.2 million; country music star George Strait purchases Western Party.

April 13—First day of simulcasting; 774 people wagered $104,598 on seven tracks.

May 27—Twin Trifecta wager first offered at Retama Park.

June 25—Retama Park hosts race for Amateur Riders Club of the Americas; famed cartoonist "Peb" (Pierre Bellocq) makes guest appearance at track.

July 8—Jockey Austin Lovelace scores 500th career victory aboard Champion Move in 5th race.

July 31—Retama Park joins forces with Clear Channel Radio, Inc. on AM 760 KTKR to produce "Day at the Races" with host Doug Vair, the track’s television handicapper and fan education manager.

August 5—Fred Baker of Seguin, a member of Turf and Field Club, cashes winning Twin Trifecta ticket of $73,324.50.

September 25—First Quarter Horse meet opens.

September 29—Superfecta wager first offered at Retama Park.

November 9 & 10—Retama Park and Heritage Place host Quarter Horse sale for yearlings, broodmares and horses of racing age; 268 horses sell for $858,550.

November 11—MBNA America Challenge Championships held at Retama Park.

November 20—Retama Park closes Quarter Horse meet two weeks early due to lack of operating funds but remains open for simulcasting.

1996

February 1—President Robert Quigley, integral in the development, financing and construction of the track since 1992, announces his resignation.

March 20—Retama Park files for Chapter 9 bankruptcy.

June 8—The track opens for second year of live racing.

July 12—Call Now, Inc. reaches agreement to buy majority interest of Retama Park bonds; makes $3 million deposit.

July 18—Retama Park announces first purse increase ever.

August 8—Retama Park releases plans to remain open as a training center when not open for live racing.

September 20—Call Now, Inc. and Howe, Solomon and Hall (HSH) complete bond buyout agreement for $10.3 million and grant Retama Park $1.3 million in funding for the remainder of fiscal year ending March 31, 1997.

November 29—The track completes its second year of live racing, posting dramatic increases in total wagering and per capita wagering.

1997

February 11—Catering is brought in-house and Howard Urick is named director of food services.

February 13 —Court confirms bankruptcy and funding plan.

March 13— Robert Pollock, serving as acting general manager since the first of the year, is named general manager.

March 26—Retama Park emerges from bankruptcy.

May 9—Third racing season begins with Retama Park’s first Mixed Meet.

June 28—Four Mexico regional MBNA America Quarter Horse Racing Challenge races run at Retama Park.

July 10—Bryan Brown named chief executive officer of Retama Park. Joe Straus, Jr. remains with the track as Chairman of the Board.

July 19—Jo Ann Weber appointed to newly developed position of Turf and Field Club manager. The Turf and Field Club is moved from the Clubhouse level to a renovated, exclusive area in the Press Box level.

September—Corpus Christi Greyhound is the first dog track simulcast to Retama Park.

November 22—Thoroughbred Meet ends; Horse of the Meet Two Steppin’ Toni, owned in part by former Retama Park COO Robert Quigley, was undefeated in four stakes races.

November 24—The amount of money wagered on Retama Park racing for the year is announced to have increased 17% over the 1996 season.

1998

March—For the first time in its three-year history, Retama Park reported a net profit after depreciation, amortization and debt service in January, primarily due to a 44% increase in simulcast handle during that month. February’s simulcast handle increased by 32% over 1997.

March 16—For the fifth time in seven weeks, a record was set for simulcast wagering (other than weeks including the Triple Crown or Breeders’ Cup).

April 1—Simulcast wagering revenues in March totaled over $5,729,994; the best month in the history of the track.

April 23—Retama Park reports net income of $441,500 for the quarter ending March 31; same quarter in 1997 posted net loss of over $1.6 million.

May 1—Mixed Meet begins; the Race Book and Sports Bar, the only San Antonio location where horse and dog race wagering is legal, opens on the Clubhouse level with over 30 big-screen televisions and a seating capacity of 300.

May 8—First KTFM 50-Cent Friday night draws over 8,800 fans; largest number ever for a Mixed or Quarter Horse date.

May 10—Jockey Roman Chapa posts spectacular weekend; 12 wins (five on Saturday), six seconds and two thirds from 31 mounts.

June 3—A new monthly record of simulcast wagering is set when $6,626,085 is wagered during May.

June 8—A 20% purse increase is announced for the upcoming Thoroughbred meet.

June 20—MBNA American Challenge Championships again held at Retama Park.

June 28—Figures for the Mixed Meet show that the average handle on Retama Park’s races (from all sources) increased 37% from 1997; the average nightly handle was $378,597 as compared to $277,158 the previous year.

August 22—Four Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders on hand for autographs and photos.

October 16—On what was to be the penultimate night of the Thoroughbred season, the track posted the best figures in its history; $1,825,000 was wagered on Retama Park’s live product, the highest amount ever.

October 17—Final day of racing cancelled due to torrential flooding in the San Antonio area.

October 19—The average handle of $1,049,693 per night during the 1998 Thoroughbred Meet was an all-time Retama Park meet record. Attendance for the season was up 12% and handle was up a huge 24%.

1999

January 28—Riding the wave of increased wagering and attendance, the track announces a hefty 32% purse increase for the upcoming Mixed Meet.

February 16—Expansion plans are announced - the plush "Players Club" for Turf and Field Club members is to be built in former Legacy Room.

February 24—A record simulcast handle (other than for a week including Triple Crown races or the Breeders’ Cup) is posted for the week ending February 21; total wagering on simulcast races is $1,567,531.

March 24—Retama Park imports Australian racing which boosts handle by 26% and attendance by 11%.

April 12—Retama Park, The Race Track Chaplaincy of America and The Texas Horseman’s Partnership join to build a basketball court in the barn area.

April 23—Mixed Meet begins; the Players Club opens.

April 30—Outbound wagering was at an all-time high $434,700. The old record was at $290,000 set June 28, 1998.

May 17—The 1999 Thoroughbred Stakes schedule is announced. Purses total over $1 million, which is a first for Retama Park.

May 20—Plans for a Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame are announced by the foundation created by Joe Straus, Jr.

June 5—Total record handle on Retama Park’s live racing is broken on the day of the 131st Belmont Stakes; $919,733 was wagered on Retama Park’s live product. Additionally, a total of $223,308 was wagered on the Belmont Stakes, which is the most that has been bet on a single race at Retama Park.

June 13—Ben Richard Marek cashes in a $39,000 Twin Trifecta Ticket.

June 27—Retama Park’s Mixed Meet ends and leading titles are bestowed. Leading Owner-Joe C. Faulkner; Leading Trainer-Toby Keeton; Leading Jockey– Roman Chapa. Total combined handle was $17,082,654 which was up 24% from 1998. Total attendance was 114,432 (without children) up from 112,896. Average attendance was 3,691 and average combined handle was $551,053.

July 30—Retama Park’s Million Dollar Thoroughbred Meet begins. Almost 5,000 race fans show up on opening night which was 1,000 more people than opening night in 1998.

July 31—The Texas Racing Commission announces 2000 race dates. Retama Park’s Mixed Meet will run April 21-July 2 and the Thoroughbred Meet will run from August 4-October 28.

August 6—Rocketman, a flying human, visits Retama Park.

September 4—Fireworks, the $75,000 La Senorita and the $100,000 El Joven highlight Labor Day Weekend. A total of 7,422 fans gathered at Retama Park, the season’s best attendance.

September 8—Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame announces 26 individual and horse nominations gathered from the media and the racing industry.

September 15—The Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Committee announces 6 inductees to the Hall of Fame. Assault, Dash for Cash, Pan Zareta, Bill Shoemaker, Robert Kleberg, Sr. and B.F. Phillips were honored during the Inaugural Gala on October 8.

October 8—The Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Inaugural Gala raised over $80,000 for a permanent hall of fame building.

October 22—The final Friday of live Thoroughbred racing set a new handle record. Over $2 Million dollars from all sources was bet on the 11 race card.

October 24—The season ended with a 8% increase in handle and a 7% increase in attendance. Total attendance was 155,285 (not including children) up from 140,285 in 1998. Total combined handle was $56,851,357 compared to the 1998 figure of $51,434,971. Average handle was $1,114,732 and average attendance was 3,045 (without children).

November 1—The training center opens for the fourth consecutive year. Connections from New York, Iowa, Florida, Colorado, Wisconsin, Oklahoma. Louisiana, New Mexico and Kentucky enjoy the warm weather in South Texas.

December 1—Workers begin to repair the leak in Retama Park’s infield lake. The lake was over 30 feet deep and would not hold water. Plans call for dirt to be hauled in to make the lake 12-13 feet deep and then carefully sealed.

2000

January 10--Retama Park reunites with Taylor West Advertising, Inc.

January 20--2000 Racing Schedule is revised at the Texas Racing Commission Meeting. The Thoroughbred Meet will run on Wednesdays instead of Sundays in October.

February 1—January 2000 sees a 23% handle increase over January 1999. Fans wagered $6,454,526, which was $1.2 million over revenue reported in January 1999, making January 2000 the second best month in the track’s history.

February 10—CEO Bryan Brown is named in San Antonio Business Journal’s Top 40 under 40.

February 11—Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame nomination forms are sent to members of the media, racing organizations, and tracks. The inductees will be announced on June 24 at Lone Star Park.

February 16—Retama Park will host part of the Texas Triple. The horse that wins the Retama Park Futurity, the Sam Houston Futurity and the Texas Classic Futurity will win $1 million. The program is sponsored by the TQHA.

February 23—The Texas Racing Commission unanimously approved the transfer of Longhorns Down’s Class 2 license to the Austin Jockey Club.

March 11—Retama Park Fans wagered a $447,878, which set the record for the amount simulcast on a Saturday (does not include Triple Crown or Breeders’ Cup Days)

March 27—Thoroughbred Stakes Schedule announced and purse money increased 13% over 1999 $999,000. Also, the daily purses for the Mixed Meet increased approximately 20% over 1999.

April 10—Retama Park sets record for number of nominations for the AQHA/American Airlines Texas Challenge Trials. A total of 247 horses made the first payment for the regional challenge race.

April 21—Opening Night for the Mixed Meet. Attendance for opening night, compared to the same day in 1999, was up 15% and total wagering from all sources was up 60% to $605,465.

May 6—Kentucky Derby Day at Retama Park broke records. Total simulcast wagering was $781,288, a new single day record for simulcast wagering; total on-track wagering was $1,078,000 which marked the first time Retama Park fan’s wagering exceeded $1,000,000.

May 11—Overnight purses, the money horses race for on a nightly basis, increased 33&, the largest increase ever. Retama Park offered $42,000 per night compared to $32,000 per night during the first three weeks of racing.

May 12—First Fifty Cent Friday of the season attracted 10,526 patrons.

June 25—Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Honorees announced at Lone Star Park. The group includes Middleground, Go Man Go, Stymie, Max Hirsch, Walter Merrick and Jerry Bailey. Plus, Angel Cordero, Jr. with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

July 3—2000 Mixed Meet was most successful in Retama Park’s history. Compared to 1999, attendance was 9.3%; live handle was up 4.5%; total average handle ($581,147) was a 5.5% increase. An average of almost 4,000 people passed through the turnstiles (includes simulcast attendance) and live handle average $175,411 per night. Jerry Lee Yoakum wins the Leading Rider title; Manuel Gonzalez easily won the Leading Trainer title; and Geral DeWitt from Garland, Texas won the Leading Owner Title.

August 1—Daily purses for the Thoroughbred Meet increased from $80,000 in 1999 to $97,000 for 2000. The increase was driven by a 10.2% increase in simulcast wagering. Also, the Pick Three wager is added.

October 2—The second annual Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Gala is held. Special honorees Jerry Bailey and Angel Cordero, Jr. had to cancel their appearance because of plane delays.

October 19—The new Rolling Pick Three with a reduced take-out seems to increase daily average total handle. Compared to two weeks prior to introducing the wager (September 20-October 4), daily average total handle for October 4-October 14 increased 21.5%.

October 4—Rolling Pick Three wager on races three-eight. Take-out on the wager was slashed from 24% to 12%.

October 28—For the year, the track’s total live attendance increased to 223,751 from 210,523 in 1999. Total Live On-Track handle increased from $12,052,391 in 1999 to $12,271,881 in 2000. Average attendance was 2,664 and average total handle was $889,248. Leading titles were awarded to William G. Brown for Leading Owner, Jerenesto Torrez and Danny Pish tied for leading trainer, Roman Chapa handily won the Leading Rider award and Josh Boyd captured the Leading Apprentice title for the second year.