As much as a good story it would be if Sam Houston Race Park’s handle jump in February was because of gains with an on-track crowd, the increased betting is not because of interest in Houston but because of bets being made outside the country.

Sam Houston began accepting wagers with the computer-assisted wagering team Elite Turf Club via an outlet in the Isle of Mann, and its participation has helped the track nearly double its average handle from $122,490 through the first three weeks of the year to $212,807 the last six weeks of the year.

Those numbers provide a stark contrast compared to 2024 as well. Sam Houston’s average daily handle was down 14.5 percent through those first three weeks of 2025 versus 2024, but it is up 34.2 percent in the last six weeks.

“There are a limited number of Elite TC international groups now wagering on Sam Houston,” said Chris McErlean, executive vice president of racing for Penn National Gaming, which owns Sam Houston.

Lone Star Park near Dallas was the first Texas track to welcome Elite back into the pools, which it did beginning with its 2024 meeting after receiving approval from the Texas Racing Commission, which previously had not signed off on the Elite contracts.

“I think from both tracks’ perspective, we’re desperate for handle,” said Brandon Leigh, director of marketing and player development for Lone Star.

Elite helped Lone Star increase overall handle, as the track’s 2024 numbers were up 9% on two fewer days and 19 less races. Average daily handle was up 14.4% from $356,489 in 2023 to $408,066 in 2024, a total of $51,577 per day.

What is interesting about that number, though, is that handle from off-track sources increased about $81,000 per day. Put another way, on-track handle accounted for about 78% of total handle in 2023 but only 61% last year.

Neither Lone Star nor Sam Houston is able to simulcast their Thoroughbred races to U.S. outlets outside of Texas because the state does not participate in the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority. Outlets within Texas, such as other tracks and Canada outlets such as HPI Bet, Woodbine and its OTBs, can import Texas Thoroughbred signals.

“Elite is now our biggest simulcast partner,” Leigh said. “With Woodbine and Sam Houston next.”

Sam Houston races Friday through Sunday until April 6, and Lone Star begins its spring-summer meeting April 17 and races through July 13.