PAGE   11                                        The Houston Chronicle

                    August 24, 1993, Tuesday, 2 STAR Edition                               
Correction Appended

SECTION: A; Pg. 9

LENGTH: 529 words

HEADLINE: Racetrack progress applauded; "Groundbreaking' follows lots of 
work

BYLINE: RICH BURK; Staff

KEYWORD: Metfront Houston

 BODY:    Mayor Bob  Lanier  called it ""the most advanced groundbreaking 
I've ever attended. ''

   Even as he and other dignitaries spoke at Monday's event, work 
continued on Sam Houston Race Park, the $ 84 million Class I horse 
racetrack in northwest Harris County.

   ""This really is just a ceremony,'' said Sam Houston President Bob 
Harter.  ""As you can see, a great deal has already been accomplished. ''


   In the three months since Charles  Hurwitz,  president and chief 
executive officer of Houston-based Maxxam, announced he was increasing 
his holdings in the track, the nearly 300-acre site off Beltway 8 and 
Texas 249 has changed dramatically.

   The site has been cleared, and slabs for several buildings are in 
place.  The slab will be poured Wednesday for the jockey quarters and 
Thursday for the 10,000-seat grandstand.

   Steel for the administration building is already in place.

   Structural steel for the remainder of the track is expected to arrive 
about Sept.18.

   ""We've made a lot of progress, but we certainly don't want to stop 
now,'' said track general manager Jim Murphy.  ""We may be the only 
people in this area who are happy it hasn't rained since the first part 
of July. ''  Lanier  and Harris County Judge Jon Lindsay marveled at the 
progress of the facility in remarks Monday, and said the track will be a 
financial boon to the area.

   ""This track is certainly going to have an economic impact on the 
city, because it will help with tourism and bringing conventions to the 
city, two big industries for us,''  Lanier  said.


                                                                       
PAGE   12                      The Houston Chronicle, August 24, 1993                     


   Lindsay agreed, then added there was another benefit.

   ""When Charles ( Hurwitz)  came in, it took the county off the hot 
seat,'' said Lindsay.

   Sam Houston Race Park partners once got the county to approve backing 
about $ 95 million in bonds to build and initially operate the track, but 
the proposal never got past preliminary planning stages.

   Texas Racing Commission Chairwoman Pat Pangburn said Monday's 
groundbreaking also gets her off a hot seat.

   ""There is no bigger fan of horse racing in the state than Gov. Ann 
Richards,'' said Pangburn.  ""Every time I've seen her since she 
appointed me to the commission, she's given me the third degree about 
when we were going to get Class I racing started.

   ""Now I can finally tell her the first Class I racetrack is under 
construction. ''

   The facility is scheduled to open April 29, eight days prior to the 
Kentucky Derby, which, Harter said, is expected to be simulcast at Sam 
Houston Race Park.

   ""The contractor (Linbeck Construction of Houston) told us that May 1 
was doable,'' said Harter.  ""Rather than start that day, a Monday, we 
went for April 29, a Friday. ''

    Hurwitz  came in for high praise for his role in getting the track 
financing completed.  Sam Houston partners received the Class I license 
in August 1991 but could not obtain private or public financing.

    Hurwitz,  who said his exposure to horse racing is limited, called 
the track ""a terrific opportunity. ''

   ""We didn't do it with an eye on the next quarter's earnings 
statement,'' he said.  ""We did it because we think it is going to be 
great for the city and county. ''

CORRECTION-DATE: August 31, 1993

 CORRECTION: The drawing of the layout of Sam Houston Race Park that 
accompanied this story was an old drawing. The plan has since undergone 
some changes. Also, the artist's rendering of the park was reversed in 
the reproduction process and the resulting picture was a mirror image of 
the rendering.Corrections published 8/27/93.

GRAPHIC: Drawing: 1. An artist's rendering of Sam Houston Race Park (SEE 
CORRECTION); Drawing: 2.Layout of Sam Houston Race Park (SEE CORRECTION); 
Photo: 3. Dignitaries send the dirt flying in Monday's official 
groundreaking ceremony for Sam Houston Race Park, they are county 
Commissioners Steve Radack and Jerry Eversole, track investor Charles  
Hurwitz,  Texas Racing Commission Chairwoman

                                                                       
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