SELMA, TX – July 28, 2026. The inaugural Retama Betting Championship, presented by Texas Quarter Horse Association (TQHA), took place this past weekend at Retama Park.  The contest consisted of two separate events, one spanning the live card on Friday night and the other a simulcast contest Saturday featuring racing from Saratoga and Del Mar.   
In the preliminary event on Friday, a total of 52 entries did battle over the 11-race program.  With a $50 exacta in the nightcap, Morgan Brown of Grand Prairie, TX took down the top prize and earned a seat to the 2027 National Horseplayers Championship.  His final score of $1,805.60 bested the competition by a large margin with Retama regular Sandra Williams finishing second with a final score of $695.80.
On Saturday, 47 entries at $1,000 apiece were purchased and NHC Hall of Famer Trey Stiles ended up atop the leaderboard.  He needed the help of a disqualification in final race at Del Mar, where he had $800 to win on Take Another Card.  His final score of $6,549.35 left him ahead of Tony Love, who also qualified for the NHC, and ended with a bankroll of $6,101.40.  It will be Love’s first appearance in the event.
Stiles had already qualified for his 25th NHC but will now have two entries at the event on March 5-7, 2027.  His son, Joseph Stiles, who has also already qualified for the 2027 NHC, finished third with a final bankroll of $5,290.50
“The Retama Betting Championship was a rousing success and gave us an opportunity to showcase our property to newcomers as well as some players who we were delighted to return to San Antonio,” Bryan Pettigrew, Retama Park General Manager and Vice President of Texas Racing Operations.  “We are thankful to the TQHA for partnering with us on the event and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) for working with us on the NHC prizes and seats.”
The contest took place in Retama Park’s newly renovated Founders Club on the Clubhouse level.  Contest play on Friday night’s TQHA Summer Showdown card contributed to a highly successful evening on-track, where handle exceeded $132,000, an increase of over 50% from the same event a year ago.  
On Saturday, the 47 contest entries generated over $82,000 in import handle, which led to an increase of over 33% in import handle for the day.  The addition of live money contests have brought scores of new players to both Sam Houston Race Park and Retama Park in recent years.
“We have made it a priority to get both properties firmly back into the rotation of contest sites on the road to the NHC,” said Nick Tammaro, Sam Houston Race and Retama Park Player Development Manager.  “Players can now pencil in the Retama Betting Championship as a destination each year and we will continue to offer live money contests for our regular customers as well.”
Live racing resumes at Retama Park on Thursday, July 30.  The annual Diamond Dig, presented by Americus Diamonds, will take place on Saturday, August 1.  
About Retama Park
Operated by Penn Entertainment Inc., Retama Park is Selma’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located 15 miles northeast of downtown San Antonio. The horse track, which opened in 1995, offers a variety of attractions for businesses, group outings and families during racing season and throughout the year. The track offers multiple areas for fans looking for casual to upscale dining options including its Terrace Dining Restaurant, Clubhouse 95 and its Turf and Field Suites. For more information or tickets to upcoming live racing, shows and events, please visit www.retamapark.com. For more information and racing schedules, please visit and follow on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube.