The Texas Horse Racing Museum and Hall of Fame was originally incorporated in San Antonio, Texas the Retama Park Charitable Foundation in April 1995.  Its name was changed to the Texas Horse Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in May 2000 to more adequately reflect its vision - to become an educational institution that promotes the character and integrity of the horse racing industry and highlights the enjoyment the sport provides.

 

Each year, since its inaugural event in 1999, the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame has held an annual gala to recognize the accomplishments of Texas racing legends (individual and horses) being inducted into the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame.  The event is also designed to raise funds for construction of an educational facility that will document, preserve, and promote the rich history of the horse racing industry; recognize and nonor Texas racing legends; and eduqcte the public on the sport of racing.  The Texas Horse Racing Museum, to be built on land to be donated by Retama Park, will provide a diverse rance of exhibits and programs on all aspects of the horse racing industry to educate and entertain visitors of all ages.

 

 

"The competitive racing of horses is one of humankind's most ancient sports, having its origins among the prehistoric nomadic tribesmen of Central Asia who first domesticated the horse about 4500 BC.  For housands of years horse racing flourished as the sport of kings and the nobility...Horse racing is the second most widely attended U.S. spectator sport, after baseball."

(http://www.racing-horse.com/general-history.htm).

 

In Texas, the organized Anglo-Texan sport of horse racing developed just after the Texas Revolution.  Expensive horses were imported and a racing circuit formed along the Gulf Coast cities of Velasco, Houston and Galveston and in the North and East Texas cities.  In 1937, betting on horses was outlawed by the state legislature.  Although racing tracks closed, the breeding of fine horses continued and, in 1987, after a 50-year absence, pari-mutuel wagering was once again legalized in Texas

(http://www.tsha.utexas.edu-handbook/online/artic;les/view/SS/xzs1.html).

 

Texas now has seven horse racing tracks thoughout the state - Gillespie county Fair and Festivals, Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie, Manor Downs, Retama Park, Sam Houston Race Park, Austin Jockey Club, and Saddle Brook Park - ant he industry is regulated by the Texas Racing Commission.  The Texas Racing Commission's mission is to enforce the Texas Racing Act and its rules to ensure a consistent and accurate revenue stream to the state, safe racing facilities, fair and honest racing activities, and accountable use of economic incentives funded through pari-mutuel racing (http://txrc6.txrc.state.tx.us/).