H.R. No. 1914
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie is celebrating 20
years of horse racing in 2017; and
WHEREAS, The track held its first race, the $50,000 Premiere
Stakes, on April 17, 1997, when, to the great shock of even the
horse's trainer, a five-year-old Thoroughbred gelding with the
unlikely name I Are Sharp won against 50 to 1 odds; two years later,
an appearance at the track of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness
winner Real Quiet and the retirement ceremony of jockey Julie Krone
brought some 21,000 fans to the park; and
WHEREAS, In 2004, the Breeders' Cup drew a record crowd of
more than 53,700, and the following year, the park celebrated its 10
millionth visitor; the park's first $400,000 purse was won in May
2006 by Santa Anita Handicap runner-up Magnum; and
WHEREAS, Prior to its 2013 season, the park reconditioned its
main track, renovated the 1,200-seat Silks Dining Terraces, and
redesigned its television presentation; in addition to live races
at the park, the track simulcasts other races from around the
nation; in 2016, the park took in $160 million in wagers, nearly
half of the total bet on horse racing in the entire state that year;
and
WHEREAS, The park's 2017 Thoroughbred season runs from April
20 to July 30, and its quarter horse season runs from September 15
to November 11; in addition to racing, the park offers its Lone Star
Music concert series and hosts various other events throughout the
year; and
WHEREAS, For two decades, Lone Star Park has offered the
residents of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex the thrill of live
horse racing as well as other entertainment opportunities, and the
track is truly deserving of special recognition on this milestone
occasion; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the 20th anniversary of Lone Star
Park and extend to the track's owners and staff sincere best wishes
for continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Lone Star Park as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Alonzo
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1914 was adopted by the House on May
12, 2017, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House