The Houston Chronicle

                      July 9, 1993, Friday, 2 STAR Edition

SECTION: A; Pg. 19

LENGTH: 630 words

HEADLINE: Horse track planners are rarin' to go; Construction is set to 
begin this summer

BYLINE: RICH BURK; Staff

KEYWORD: Metfront Houston Horse Racing

 BODY:    Groundbreaking on the Sam Houston Race Park will begin this 
summer after financing was completed for $ 75 million in bonds to 
construct a Class I horse track in northwest Harris County.

   A $ 4.2 million deal to purchase nearly 300 acres near Beltway 8 and 
Texas 249 was completed Tuesday.

   ""This is a major milestone for us,'' said Bob Harter, president of 
the partnership.  ""For several years, area residents have heard about a 
proposed track and have wondered if and when it would become a reality.  
Now that the financing is in place, construction can begin. ''

   Today, the partnership could begin clearing the land for the formal 
groundbreaking.  That has excited officials who believe the track will be 
a boost to the local economy.

   ""The horse track is another star in our galaxy in the Houston 
scene,'' said Don Ward, special projects director for the Greater Houston 
Convention and Visitors Bureau.

   The subscription of bonds for the track will be handled through 
Salomon Bros. of Chicago.  Sam Houston partners had originally sought to 
place $ 70 million in bonds but received offers for $ 75 million.

   Sam Houston Race Park partners have told the state racing commission 
they want to begin thoroughbred racing April 29, with the first meet 
running until June 19.  A second thoroughbred meet would be held Oct. 11 
through Dec. 31.

   A 73-day quarter horse race meet would run July 1 through Sept. 19.

   ""I'm absolutely thrilled,'' said Texas Racing Commission chairman Pat 
Pangburn.  ""Knowing a Class I racetrack is so close is a real shot in 
the arm for the state's racing industry and for horsemen.

                                                                       
PAGE   17                       The Houston Chronicle, July 9, 1993                       


   ""I'm not really surprised that things have moved so quickly in the 
last two months.  Charles  Hurwitz  is a very influential person in 
financial circles, and it is a great plus to have him involved. ''  
Hurwitz,  president and chief operating officer of Houston-based Maxxam, 
increased his holdings in Sam Houston Race Park in early May when he 
purchased stock owned by former Astros owner John McMullen and the 
Houston Sports Association.

    Hurwitz  reportedly paid $ 7 million for that stock, and provided 
another $ 3 million for interim operations.

   Sam Houston Race Park was awarded a Class I license in August 1991.  
Two other Class I tracks were subsequently licensed, one northeast of San 
Antonio and another in Grand Prairie.

   Harris County Judge Jon Lindsay said he ""was delighted'' the partners 
received financing for the track.

   Last year, Lindsay was criticized for supporting a plan by which the 
county would own the track after allowing its tax-exempt bond status to 
be used to raise money for the project.  When Lindsay backed down, 
private financing was sought.

   ""They've taken me off the political hot seat, and we get the jobs, 
which is what I was after in the first place,'' said Lindsay, estimating 
the track will generate at least 1,000 permanent jobs.

   Mayor Bob  Lanier,  a close friend of  Hurwitz,  could not be reached 
for comment, but a spokesman said  Lanier  believes the new racing 
facility will attract tourists to the Houston area.

   Last year,  Lanier  announced plans to annex the track property along 
with the Willowbrook Mall area.  But the plan was dropped after 
developers said it could threaten their financial package, said Assistant 
City Planner Jerry Wood.

   Wood said he expects the city will annex the land after the track is 
built.

   The new venture will boost north Harris County's economy just as the 
year-old Gulf Greyhound Park has helped the area around La Marque in 
Galveston County, Ward predicted.  Clear Lake and Galveston area motels 
have benefited greatly, he said, because about one-quarter of the 
greyhound racegoers are from outside the Houston-Galveston area.