Texas-bred horses who race in claiming and allowance races at Sam Houston Race Park are eligible for a new bonus in 2025.

The Texas Thoroughbred Association is offering a bonus to the top 12 accredited Texas-bred horses by money earned in non-stakes races during the current Sam Houston meet, according to a report from BloodHorse. With stakes races not considered, the bonus is specifically aimed at rewarding owners of the horses who make up the backbones of day-to-day cards in Texas.

“Providing owners with a realistic opportunity for increased earnings will keep these horses and their owners in the game,” Tracy Sheffield, executive director of the Texas Thoroughbred Association, said.

To fund this bonus, the Texas Thoroughbred Association requested money from a horse industry escrow account toward the current Sam Houston meet. The request was approved by the Texas Racing Commission at its meeting on Wednesday.