For Immediate Release
Thursday, April 19, 2012
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (April 19, 2012) – Trainer W. Bret Calhoun won the 2,000th Thoroughbred race of his career Thursday night at Lone Star Park when Forty Winks made a bid at the furlong marker, to draw clear by three lengths.
“It’s pretty exciting that it happened there, at my home track,” said Calhoun, a 47-year-old native of Grand Prairie, Texas. “It’s been a long time. You never expect to win that many races,” he added, “It’s a significant amount. It feels good.”
Calhoun, who was winless at Lone Star Park during the 1997 inaugural season, has since been in the top 10 of the trainer standings at Lone Star for 12 of 16 seasons. He has been leading trainer for the past two seasons (2010 and 2011) and has amassed earnings of over $10.9 million, at the Grand Prairie track.
Since recording his first win on April 1, 1994 at Trinity Meadows with a horse named Ramjet, Calhoun’s stellar career has been highlighted by his first two Breeders’ Cup wins in 2010 - the Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) with Dubai Majesty and the Turf Sprint (G2) with Chamberlain Bridge. He also trained his first Eclipse Award winner that same year, when Dubai Majesty was voted champion female sprinter.
NOTES:
Casey Donahew Band in Concert: Casey Donahew Band will perform after the races Friday, April 20. The concert is free with your $5 General Admission until 9 p.m., or $20 after 9 p.m. Motion will perform on the Courtyard of Champions stage between the races.
Ted Nugent in Concert: Ted Nugent will perform after the races Saturday, April 21. The concert is free with your $5 General Admission until 5 p.m., or $20 after 5 p.m. Bleu Edmonson will perform on the main stage just before Ted Nugent.
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Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie, a Class I racetrack operated by Global Gaming Solutions LLC, offers a53-day 2012 Spring Thoroughbred Season which opens Thursday, April 12 and concludes on Sunday, July 8. Live racing will be held four days a week, Thursday and Friday at 6:35 p.m. (except Thursday, May 31 and Thursday, July 5 when there will be no live racing), and Saturday and Sunday at 1:35 p.m. The racing program on Memorial Day, May 28, will start at 1:35 p.m. Special twilight programs will be held at 5 p.m. on both Tuesday, July 3 (with post-race concert by award-winning country artist Pat Green) and Wednesday, July 4 (with the Lone Stars & Stripes Fireworks Celebration).
The track’s 26-day, 2012 Fall Meeting of Champions for American Quarter Horses will be held from Sept. 14 to Nov. 10.
Lone Star Park is also home to the multi-million dollar simulcast racebook, sports bar and event venue, Bar & Book. The 36,000 square foot venue is open to the public 363 days a year.
For more information on Lone Star Park visit LoneStarPark.com
Global Gaming Solutions, LLC (GGS), is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Chickasaw Nation with a primary business focus of pursuing entertainment, gaming and racing related opportunities in emerging jurisdictions in the United States and overseas as well as acquisition of regional gaming and entertainment assets. GGS LLC is the parent company of GG RP, which owns Remington Park in Oklahoma City, OK and GG LSP. Global Gaming Solutions, LLC, is the track operator who owns the license to operate Lone Star Park and leases the property from the Grand Prairie Sports Facilities Development Corporation.
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