Joe Straus, Jr., a breeder and owner of Thoroughbred horses, is the founder of the Texas Horse Racing Association and was one of the leaders in the passage of pari-mutuel racing in Texas. He is chairman of Retama Entertainment Group in San Antonio, the management company of Retama Park Racetrack. He is co-founder of Retama Park Racetrack and partner in Straus and Novak racing stable.

Straus served on the Texas A&M Target 2000 committee and spearheaded efforts for the Texas Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory to serve as the lead agency to test competition racehorses.

In 2006, Joe and his brother, David J. Straus, were presented with the 2006 Freeman Award by the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce for their excellence and contributions to agribusiness.

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