SELMA, TX–Retama Park concluded its 2026 summer meet with an encouraging three-day closing weekend, generating more than $1.57 million in combined on- and off-track wagering. Full cards were contested all three nights, with five stakes races highlighting a weekend that combined competitive racing with family-friendly entertainment.

Friday delivered one of the strongest nights of the weekend, as attendance increased nearly 20 percent to 1,604 and combined wagering climbed 10.6 percent to $553,571. The evening was highlighted by the first stakes race of closing weekend, when AQHA Supreme Race Horse Shakers No Secret won the AQHA Retama Championship Challenge (G3), earning a berth in the AQHA Racing Challenge Championship on October 17 at The Downs at Albuquerque.

Wagering engagement remained strong throughout the finale, with on-track handle per attendee increasing nearly 6 percent year over year. More than 4,200 fans turned out Saturday for the final night of the meet, which included the always-popular Wiener Dog Races between the horse races.

Saturday's racing program featured four stakes—the $61,972 Colors of the Alamo Paint and Appaloosa Futurity (G3), $42,737 Colors of the Wind Paint and Appaloosa Maturity, $100,000 TQHA Sires' Cup Derby (RG3), and $230,000 TQHA Sires' Cup Futurity (RG2).

The evening also produced several memorable performances. Jockey Victor Urieta Jr. and trainer Jose Garcia teamed to sweep both TQHA Sires' Cup races for owner K K Horse Racing, while Cholula established a new Paint track record in the Colors of the Wind Maturity.

Between the horse races, Wiener Dog trial heats brought another level of excitement to the evening, culminating with a $500 cash prize won by Forest. "We feel on top of the world right now, this is what we came out here to do," Forest's excited owner said following the victory, which marked his 82nd lifetime win.

The enthusiasm surrounding the event reflected Retama Park's continued effort to combine live racing with family entertainment and give fans even more reasons to spend an evening at the racetrack.

Saturday's program also provided an opportunity to remember several members of the racing community. Three In Memoriam races were held during the evening, including the Jerry Burgess Memorial in race five, a race honoring James Weiler in race eight, and the Daves Family Classic, which closed the 2026 Retama Park meet as race 11.

THE MEET LEADERS Sunset Well Service, Inc finished as the leading owner by wins with six victories and $55,369 in earnings. Sarah Huskey and John Boegner followed with five wins each. Double J Racing led all owners in earnings with $310,763 from two victories.

Mario Loza earned leading trainer honors with 13 wins and $137,032 in earnings. Brittany Tellez finished with 11 victories, followed by Ben Olaveson with eight.

Luis Vivanco was the meet's leading jockey by wins, recording 22 victories and $535,291 in earnings. Victor Urieta Jr. followed with 19 wins and $352,828, while Gilberto Linares ranked third. Defending leading rider Nestor Duran finished with 17 victories and topped the jockey standings in earnings with $552,291.

A SEASON WRAP-UP The partnership between Retama Park and the Texas Quarter Horse Association continued to play an important role throughout the 2026 summer meet, bringing together major racing events, industry programs, and promotions designed to strengthen participation and fan engagement.

Retama Park closed its 2026 live meet with positive year-over-year growth, highlighted by increased attendance and on-track wagering. Total attendance climbed 10.3 percent to 46,603, bringing more than 4,300 additional fans through the gates compared with 2025. On-track handle increased 5 percent to $2,017,525, while overall wagering surpassed $11.7 million. Off-track wagering totaled nearly $9.7 million, helping Retama finish the 23-day meet with $11,701,046 in total handle, an increase over 2025.

One of the season's biggest weekends came July 24-25, when the annual TQHA Yearling Sale was held alongside the meet's richest race, the $683,700 TQHA Sale Futurity (RG1). The combination of the sale and racing created one of the signature weekends of the summer.

The TQHA Yearling Sale posted increases across every major statistical category this year, building momentum for the Texas Showdown weekend, where wagering increased across the board, generating more than $2 million in total handle. The association also continued its support of the TQHA Sires' Cup program, offering more than $38,000 in awards to participating stallion owners.

Another addition to the season was the inaugural Retama Betting Championship presented by the Texas Quarter Horse Association. The live-money handicapping contest was held during the TQHA Sale weekend as part of the official National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) Tour leading to the national finals in Las Vegas.

Throughout the meet, Retama Park paired competitive Quarter Horse racing with a variety of fan-friendly promotions and special events. Camel and ostrich races, Family Fun Night, the City of Selma's Fireworks Show, the Americus Diamonds "Diamond Dig," Wiener Dog Races, Military Thursdays, and live entertainment helped create an atmosphere that offered fans more than racing alone.

Combined with major events such as the TQHA Sale Futurity and the growing TQHA Sires' Cup program, those promotions helped make the 2026 summer meet a season built around racing, industry participation, and family entertainment at Retama Park.

RETAMA PARK PARTNERS WITH SAN ANTONIO STOCK SHOW & RODEO Retama Park appreciates the horsemen and fans who continue to show up and support racing in South Texas. Although the 2026 summer meet has come to a close, the track's partnership with the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo will keep Retama Park connected with fans throughout the offseason.

Retama Park representatives will be on hand at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo next February, promoting the track's 2027 schedule and fan-favorite events, including Opening Weekend, fireworks shows, Camel & Ostrich Races and Kentucky Derby Day activities.

Flatland Cavalry, Turnpike Troubadours, BlackHawk and Keith Urban are among the artists scheduled for next year's San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. Tickets are on sale now at sarodeo.com and ticketmaster.com.

WEEKEND STAKES RACE RECAP

$230,000 TQHA Sires' Cup Futurity (RG2) Ruse Man Crystal drew away to a 2 1/2-length victory under Victor Urieta Jr., completing 350 yards in:17.518 for a 106 speed index. Trained by Jose A. Garcia for K K Horse Racing, the sorrel filly earned $92,523 to increase her career earnings to $152,341. She has now won three of four career starts and was third in the Oklahoma Futurity (G2) earlier this season.

Bred in Louisiana by Ruse Ranch LLC, Ruse Man Crystal is by leading third-crop sire KJ Mucho Macho Man and out of Crystal Sola, by Walk Thru Fire. Coronas First Cowboy finished second, with DK Marney 123 third.

$100,000 TQHA Sires' Cup Derby (RG3) Shes Ec To Tempt gave jockey Victor Urieta Jr., trainer Jose Garcia and owner K K Horse Racing a sweep of the two TQHA Sires' Cup races, taking the 400-yard Derby in :19.831 for a 104 speed index. The victory was worth $40,000 and increased her earnings to $202,623 from nine wins in 10 career starts.

Bred in Texas by Francisco Javier Garza, Shes Ec To Tempt is by champion Tempting Dash and out of Kas Shes Ec, by Ec Jet One. The $23,000 TQHA Yearling Sale repurchase has also won the Big Easy Futurity and C.C.F.A. Dutchman Stakes. Karma Cha Ching finished second, with Jess Drive third.

$58,718 AQHA Retama Park Championship Challenge (G3) Shakers No Secret added another graded stakes victory to his record with a half-length win under Raul Ramirez Jr., completing 440 yards in :21.869 for a 104 speed index. The victory earned him $28,185 and increased his career earnings to $893,110 from 12 wins in 42 starts.

Owned by Abel Lopez, Ethan Lopez and Manny Dutchover and trained by Marc Jungers, Shakers No Secret was bred by Garlyn Shelton. The $14,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate is by Five Bar Cartel and out of Shaker Secret, by No Secrets Here. His stakes resume includes the Championship at Sunland Park (G1), AQHA Challenge Championship (G1), West Texas Maturity (G3) and King William Stakes (G3).

Im A Pretty Mess finished second, with Eagles Up third.

$61,972 Colors of the Alamo Paint & Appaloosa Futurity (G3) Jvm Hot Victoria drew clear by 1 1/4 lengths under Rosendo Pina Garcia, completing 350 yards in :17.831 for a 96 speed index. The victory improved her record to five wins from seven starts and increased her earnings to $60,344. She also won the Colors of Houston Futurity (G2) and TPHBA Paint Horse Juvenile earlier this season.

The Texas homebred races for Juan Leon and trainer Wendy Garcia. Jvm Hot Victoria is by Chilitos and out of Victoria Camila, by Gol To Go. This Cowboys An Eagle finished second, while Trillion was elevated to third following the disqualification of Flying G Litos.

$42,737 Colors of the Wind Paint & Appaloosa Maturity Cholulaa earned her first stakes victory in record-setting fashion, prevailing by a head under Alejandro Medina and completing 350 yards in :17.739 for a 99 speed index. Her clocking established a new Paint track record, eclipsing the :17.788 mark set by V Golden Game last month.

Owned by Guerras Racing Stables and trained by Gilberto Gonzalez, Cholulaa was bred by Abraham Huitron and is a $14,500 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate. The Chilitos filly is out of Valiant Felicity, by Valiant Hero, and has earned $44,186 from 14 starts. I Do Not Recall finished second, with La Cholula third, giving Chilitos a sweep of the top three finishers.


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.

Photos by Jack Coady Photography

Recaps

1. Ruse Man Crystal, under jockey Victor Manuel Urieta Jr., was an impressive 2 1/2-length winner of the $230,000 TQHA Sires' Cup Futurity (RG2)

2. Shes Ec To Tempt, under jockey Victor Manuel Urieta Jr., won the $100,000 TQHA Sires' Cup Derby (RG3)

3. Shakers No Secret wins the $58,718 AQHA Retama Park Championship Challenge (G3)

4. Jvm Hot Victoria APHA wins the $61,972 Colors Of The Alamo Paint & Appaloosa Futurity

5. Cholula breaks Paint track record after winning the Colors of the Wind Maturity

6. This year’s 2026 Weiner Dog Championship winner Forest and his winning connections


Meet Leaders

1. Leading Owner Sunset Wells Services

2. Leading Trainer Mario Loza

3. Leading Jockey Luis Vivanco


Weiner Dog Races

1. Forest’s winning connections