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I visited the race park for a birthday celebration and was very pleasantly surprised with the facility. I was impressed by the size of the climate controlled space to view the races. There isn't a bad seat in the house. Sam Houston Race Park is certainly family friendly with something for all ages. The food was actually very good for a track. The staff was very friendly and helpful to those who place bets for the first time in life. I may have tried their patience, however. You should expect to get plenty of exercise walking from the parking areas to the entrance. Perhaps shuttles existed but I didn't see any. My overall experience was very favorable and look forward to another visit.
Being not much of a gambler, I infrequently visit this track. But today was Ostrich and Camel racing. And temperatures were below 90F. And the boss wanted to go. So I filled her up with Chardonnay, bought her a $2 ticket to win on a sure thing. She was thrilled, I was happy in the AC with reasonable bar service, and camels
I went here recently for the Ostrich & Camel races. The venue is quite large. Parking is difficult and set up extremely poorly, with dead end rows. Getting in was no issue with prepaid tickets. Once inside, there are options upstairs and downstairs for food. Getting drinks was a hassle and a half. As April and some other reviewers recently noted, it took over an hour to get a drink at the bar. Two bartenders for a line of 20-30 people should not take this long. Turns out a lot of people just either cut the line or walk up to the bar. The announcements are difficult to hear inside and I could not find accurate post times anywhere. They should have that more clearly displayed, like an ETA to the next race. Drink prices were pretty reasonable because of the specials ($4 tall boy / $2 for pre-bottled small wine that tasted like battery acid). We didn't get any food here, but the portions looked reasonable for prices that weren't too bad. Betting was very easy at the booths, although they should highlight on top that "SAM HOUSTON" is the track to bet on for the races here (since you can bet on many races at the terminals). Cashing out was also easy upstairs at the tellers. Overall, I wouldn't come back unless there was a special event. And if I did, I'd try to get there a bit earlier to not have to go through the parking wars.
The shift with Nikayla W. At the jimmy buffet tribute concert was phenomenal! The ladies were sooo sweet and kind. The bbq is delish! The drink is just right! Tunes are parrot head!
It's a great place to hang and watch races. Two days in March they have ostrich and camel races. We came for the Saturday race. The parking lot is massive with lots of handicap spaces. Walking in, it's huge. Tons of seating downstairs. They have concessions like hotdogs, frito pies, pizza, and hamburgers. We opted to eat at the Jockey Club. For $50 you have your own table with great views, a tv, unlimited non alcoholic beverage, a separate bar, and a buffet is included. Today they had BBQ grilled chicken, brisket, smoked sausage, green beans, corn, chili, assorted breads, desserts and a salad bar. The food was good. Chicken and brisket was good. I liked their chili, it had a kick. The bartenders and servers were nice. Beers are about $5.75, on Fridays they have $4 big beer specials. Drinks are about $10-$14. It's laid back, fun, and a great time to spend a day.
Came here for the Boots for Troops concert. The lineup did not disappoint. Nine hours of nonstop country music that would have you beguiled. The food was pretty damn good. The crawfish was amazing! Sausage, Boudin, sun, cigar, good day? Affirmative. The one of 2 downsides was the food truck that I ordered from forgot to give us our sausage and Boudin. It's OK. They quickly remedied the situation without asking any questions after reviewing my receipt. Props to them. The other downside was... The venue literally ran out of bottled water. This is unlike leading a horse to water. I want the damn water. I just can't drink it. Like the horse. Get it? If not, you've never heard the story of the horse being led water. Can't make it drink it? Never mind horrible analogy. The Uber drop off point was very well organized. They got us in and out without having to wait for an hour to find your car, drive to the exit, wait in line, and then holy crap. I'm right home well done. The music I'm not gonna bore you with the entire lineup because it takes too long. Google it. #Spoiler. Wade and Sawyer absolutely killed it. The staff? Utterly outstanding. Every person there was so friendly and courteous. I had to give them mega props. Do not know if they contracted out for this event or if these are their regular staff. But they did a fantastic job. That's why I tip so well. So. Eight hours? Lots of live music? Great food? Great drinks? Great staff? Easy in and out! Rock solid four stars
So my friend and I decided to check this place out for the first time and we had a great time. I can see how people spend the entire day here. There were a total of 9 horse races and also the camel and ostrich races for fun but you can't place bets on those. We arrived around 11:30 to scope out the place and had plans to eat the regular buffet but they were booked with reservations so we spent a little bit more to get a table in the Jockey club. You can literally sit in there and eat all day. General admission into the race park is only $5 and you can also rent box seats as well which are not too expensive. Check out the website. So we decided to spend a bit more for a buffet and over table in the jockey club with comes with its own small screen to see the races and you also have the big view from your seat as well of the track. The buffet was good but could be better. They had smoked brisket, chicken breast, salad, corn and green beans, chili and also desserts which were alright. The chocolate cake I had was really dry. There's alcohol everywhere and it wasn't cheaper than elsewhere but on Fridays in March they will have $4 big beers and specials on wine. The bathrooms were ok I mean so many people are doing in and out so it's hard to keep it emasculate. I bet on horses for the first time and won the first two races which was fun and also there's plenty of parking and you don't have to pay extra for it. Overall it was a fun experience and I would go back.
It was really a great experience to see the Cirque du Soleil TX Big Top show at the Sam Houston Racetrack. The performers were amazing as well as the different performances they did. It is worth the ticket price so grab 2 for yourself and another so they can witness the impossible to most with you.
FUN FRIDAY! $5 general admission and $4 24oz Big Beer/$2 187 ml wine is a recipe for a fun night at the race track. The loaded nachos were a bed of crunchy tortilla chips topped with your choice of toppings that included chicken, beef, nacho cheese sauce, lettuce, pickled jalapeños, pico, corn salsa, salsa, guacamole, sour cream and more. There is pizza, hot dogs, ice cream, popcorn and other carnival type foods available as well. Purchased a $3 program and placed a few bets. The restrooms were clean. Seating was roomy. All in all, a fun Friday!!
A fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon. The place was kid friendly and clean. We will be back.
Ok - this was seriously a fun outing. We went for the Weiner dog races, but the whole atmosphere was SO friendly & laid back. The staff was so courteous and helpful . They have food and drinks and evidently lots of events. Kids are welcome. We will be going back to experience the horse racing side if it. But we got to see the horses lining up, the jockeys up close, the horses making their walk around before the race. Very cool! The only suggestion I would have would be for the announcer of the races and such to be louder -if was way to soft.
I prefer the Sam Houston Gender Garden and the Sam Houston Sexuality Preserve, but this is nice too. This is one of many awesome event spaces in the Houston area, which makes for a really fun time depending on what's going on here. You always see a whole bunch of people here and sometimes I'll run into people I know as well. And I've met several very attractive people while here, and I'll constantly get spotted while here by people who recognize me. I didn't know you can get so well-known because of Yelp.
Quarter horse racing at its finest eat. Fridays are great. Friday beer night specials. 22 oz deals. The season is done, so I'll have to wait 6-months again to enjoy this track.
7 months ago
FIRST TIMERS at the derby today!! We had winners circle tickets which included an AYCE brunch from 12-4. Pet me tell you it was a whole lot of food we could not try all. From your typical pancakes and waffles etc. to stuffed chicken with season rice and more. An array of desserts, salads and fruits. Drinks are reasonably priced averaging $9-$12. Service is decent considering size of venue. Regular drinks, sodas and teas were included for the $45 ticket. For some reason the races mostly started away from us which was a little disappointing but overall loved the experience. They also have a special area for kids on Sundays this month only $5 with face painting, play areas, petting zoo and more. read more
Hidden gem in Houston - what a fun getaway from the city! Spent a couple of hours here on a surprise date. $7 for admission that I paid online in advance for ($14 for two people). Parking was plentiful since it was a huge lot. The venue itself is quite big - multiple floors and wide in length. There were lots of tables with individual monitors with horse races streaming from different regions of the U.S, along with lots of TVs by the food court area. Plenty of people just watching the different races streamed on the TV happily. Betting takes place on the kiosks spread throughout the building. There's a variety of methods to bet, but easily thing to do is take a picture of the screen and have ChatGPT explain it to you lol since it's a lot of information to digest if you're a first timer. Betting is minimum $2 to start. The nachos were cheap and filling - $10 for a spread shared among two people. Plenty of cheap food available. Now for the actual racing, there was a lot of seating (albeit, they were not labeled). We actually sat in the paid, reserved seating with the TV monitors (which was quite nice, since you could see the camera following the horses racing outside on the track up close), until we were kicked out since we could show the ticket narc our tickets. We relocated to a different seating area next to it, and again after a few rounds, we were ticket-checked again and had to move. Finally, we discovered the free seating, which is at the very end on the left side of the building, with the auditorium-like seats (furthest from the fancy restaurant they have). It wasn't terrible, and we spent most of the time at the paid seating anyways. Would recommend better signage because as newbies to the horse racing venue, we didn't know any better. A lot of friend groups, families, singles, all gathered to watch the horse racing, and TBH, I got pretty into it once I started betting (rabbit hole?), so it was quite fun. There was even a hat contest that was cute to watch! I'd come back! It was a unique way to spend a Saturday afternoon! read more
Attended an event at the race park. Hadn't been here in several years but it is a good place to host an event. We were outside for a benefit walk for MADD. Plenty of space outside and inside for vendors and an area for a stage for a DJ and performances. Parking is plentiful and signage was good. The inside was nice and cold which was a relief from the heat. read more
I visited the race park for a birthday celebration and was very pleasantly surprised with the facility. I was impressed by the size of the climate controlled space to view the races. There isn't a bad seat in the house. Sam Houston Race Park is certainly family friendly with something for all ages. The food was actually very good for a track. The staff was very friendly and helpful to those who place bets for the first time in life. I may have tried their patience, however. You should expect to get plenty of exercise walking from the parking areas to the entrance. Perhaps shuttles existed but I didn't see any. My overall experience was very favorable and look forward to another visit. read more
Being not much of a gambler, I infrequently visit this track. But today was Ostrich and Camel racing. And temperatures were below 90F. And the boss wanted to go. So I filled her up with Chardonnay, bought her a $2 ticket to win on a sure thing. She was thrilled, I was happy in the AC with reasonable bar service, and camels read more
I went here recently for the Ostrich & Camel races. The venue is quite large. Parking is difficult and set up extremely poorly, with dead end rows. Getting in was no issue with prepaid tickets. Once inside, there are options upstairs and downstairs for food. Getting drinks was a hassle and a half. As April and some other reviewers recently noted, it took over an hour to get a drink at the bar. Two bartenders for a line of 20-30 people should not take this long. Turns out a lot of people just either cut the line or walk up to the bar. The announcements are difficult to hear inside and I could not find accurate post times anywhere. They should have that more clearly displayed, like an ETA to the next race. Drink prices were pretty reasonable because of the specials ($4 tall boy / $2 for pre-bottled small wine that tasted like battery acid). We didn't get any food here, but the portions looked reasonable for prices that weren't too bad. Betting was very easy at the booths, although they should highlight on top that "SAM HOUSTON" is the track to bet on for the races here (since you can bet on many races at the terminals). Cashing out was also easy upstairs at the tellers. Overall, I wouldn't come back unless there was a special event. And if I did, I'd try to get there a bit earlier to not have to go through the parking wars. read more
8 months ago
The shift with Nikayla W. At the jimmy buffet tribute concert was phenomenal! The ladies were sooo sweet and kind. The bbq is delish! The drink is just right! Tunes are parrot head! read more
It's a great place to hang and watch races. Two days in March they have ostrich and camel races. We came for the Saturday race. The parking lot is massive with lots of handicap spaces. Walking in, it's huge. Tons of seating downstairs. They have concessions like hotdogs, frito pies, pizza, and hamburgers. We opted to eat at the Jockey Club. For $50 you have your own table with great views, a tv, unlimited non alcoholic beverage, a separate bar, and a buffet is included. Today they had BBQ grilled chicken, brisket, smoked sausage, green beans, corn, chili, assorted breads, desserts and a salad bar. The food was good. Chicken and brisket was good. I liked their chili, it had a kick. The bartenders and servers were nice. Beers are about $5.75, on Fridays they have $4 big beer specials. Drinks are about $10-$14. It's laid back, fun, and a great time to spend a day. read more
Came here for the Boots for Troops concert. The lineup did not disappoint. Nine hours of nonstop country music that would have you beguiled. The food was pretty damn good. The crawfish was amazing! Sausage, Boudin, sun, cigar, good day? Affirmative. The one of 2 downsides was the food truck that I ordered from forgot to give us our sausage and Boudin. It's OK. They quickly remedied the situation without asking any questions after reviewing my receipt. Props to them. The other downside was... The venue literally ran out of bottled water. This is unlike leading a horse to water. I want the damn water. I just can't drink it. Like the horse. Get it? If not, you've never heard the story of the horse being led water. Can't make it drink it? Never mind horrible analogy. The Uber drop off point was very well organized. They got us in and out without having to wait for an hour to find your car, drive to the exit, wait in line, and then holy crap. I'm right home well done. The music I'm not gonna bore you with the entire lineup because it takes too long. Google it. #Spoiler. Wade and Sawyer absolutely killed it. The staff? Utterly outstanding. Every person there was so friendly and courteous. I had to give them mega props. Do not know if they contracted out for this event or if these are their regular staff. But they did a fantastic job. That's why I tip so well. So. Eight hours? Lots of live music? Great food? Great drinks? Great staff? Easy in and out! Rock solid four stars read more
So my friend and I decided to check this place out for the first time and we had a great time. I can see how people spend the entire day here. There were a total of 9 horse races and also the camel and ostrich races for fun but you can't place bets on those. We arrived around 11:30 to scope out the place and had plans to eat the regular buffet but they were booked with reservations so we spent a little bit more to get a table in the Jockey club. You can literally sit in there and eat all day. General admission into the race park is only $5 and you can also rent box seats as well which are not too expensive. Check out the website. So we decided to spend a bit more for a buffet and over table in the jockey club with comes with its own small screen to see the races and you also have the big view from your seat as well of the track. The buffet was good but could be better. They had smoked brisket, chicken breast, salad, corn and green beans, chili and also desserts which were alright. The chocolate cake I had was really dry. There's alcohol everywhere and it wasn't cheaper than elsewhere but on Fridays in March they will have $4 big beers and specials on wine. The bathrooms were ok I mean so many people are doing in and out so it's hard to keep it emasculate. I bet on horses for the first time and won the first two races which was fun and also there's plenty of parking and you don't have to pay extra for it. Overall it was a fun experience and I would go back. read more
2 years ago
It was really a great experience to see the Cirque du Soleil TX Big Top show at the Sam Houston Racetrack. The performers were amazing as well as the different performances they did. It is worth the ticket price so grab 2 for yourself and another so they can witness the impossible to most with you. read more
FUN FRIDAY! $5 general admission and $4 24oz Big Beer/$2 187 ml wine is a recipe for a fun night at the race track. The loaded nachos were a bed of crunchy tortilla chips topped with your choice of toppings that included chicken, beef, nacho cheese sauce, lettuce, pickled jalapeños, pico, corn salsa, salsa, guacamole, sour cream and more. There is pizza, hot dogs, ice cream, popcorn and other carnival type foods available as well. Purchased a $3 program and placed a few bets. The restrooms were clean. Seating was roomy. All in all, a fun Friday!! read more
2 years ago
A fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon. The place was kid friendly and clean. We will be back. read more
Ok - this was seriously a fun outing. We went for the Weiner dog races, but the whole atmosphere was SO friendly & laid back. The staff was so courteous and helpful . They have food and drinks and evidently lots of events. Kids are welcome. We will be going back to experience the horse racing side if it. But we got to see the horses lining up, the jockeys up close, the horses making their walk around before the race. Very cool! The only suggestion I would have would be for the announcer of the races and such to be louder -if was way to soft. read more
I prefer the Sam Houston Gender Garden and the Sam Houston Sexuality Preserve, but this is nice too. This is one of many awesome event spaces in the Houston area, which makes for a really fun time depending on what's going on here. You always see a whole bunch of people here and sometimes I'll run into people I know as well. And I've met several very attractive people while here, and I'll constantly get spotted while here by people who recognize me. I didn't know you can get so well-known because of Yelp. read more
2 years ago
Quarter horse racing at its finest eat. Fridays are great. Friday beer night specials. 22 oz deals. The season is done, so I'll have to wait 6-months again to enjoy this track. read more
2 years ago
This review is only for the Bigtop for Cirque Du Soleil-KOOZA. The parking lot for the show is very adequate with parking attendants quickly maneuvering vehicles to the desired location. Your row and seat will determine the location and side entrance you will use to enter the tent, but before the Big Top tent you will pass through a smaller main tent connected which provides various areas for concessions, product sale, Concierge, photo backgrounds. The rows of WCs are located to the left on the main tent entrance with hand wash and sanitize stations throughout the area. There is also a WC trailer that is ADA located to the right of the main row of WCs. If you purchased the VIP package then a private W/C and tent area are provided for you located to the right of the main tent entrance. I am glad that Sam Houston Race Park is able to provided and area for such a great show as KOOZA. The show as phenomenal set to a backdrop of action interlaced with grace and beauty. A must visit! read more
3 years ago
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6 years ago
It's a nice spot for betting and watching some horse races. The staff is always friendly and helpful, the jockey club has good amenities! We have fun coming here! read more
9 years ago
This was my first time here, and I lived here most of my life. Used to live closer to this race park, too. I've only attended a Cirque du Soleil show when they set up their tent on part of the lot. Anyway, I love this place! I thought it was so exciting. The horses we bet on won their races or tied for first place! We missed the ostrich races, but the camel one was great. Lots of people bring their kids here. It's great fun for all. I think we might go back to see the ostrich races this weekend. Plenty of beer, and there's stadium seating inside. read more
6 years ago
Fun if you know how to bet on horse races! Fun spot if you want to take the family out on a different adventure! Buy a $2 minimum ticket to make the races interesting and exciting! Great for fun nights out with friends and family or the serious horse gambler! read more
So, I don't have to do this one twice. I was so excited about doing this walk. Maybe I'm over organized, but this walk was all over the place. Structure was halfway, they ran out of glasses, that I paid for in my VIP race packet. First strike! During the race, foam machines were isolated in 2-3 spots, machines were broken (not pumping foam out or one sided pumping foam out slowly), people acted as if they were the only ones participating and stopped under foam machines which caused chaos and line build up. Water they passed out during the race was hot and from the water hose. They had young teenagers, sticking their fingers in the cups as they passed them around and out to us. The race consisted of, unlit cones in a zigzag as our directory of which way we were to follow to walk the child made trail. Pavement was not lighted as well, causing confusion in the design patterns to follow. Unsafe cracks, high pavement, low pavement, unleveled pavement which was a accident waiting to happen. Just as any event, they only had one entrance opened, for entrance and departures, but getting in and out was organized the best. If you want to donate for the cause, this is the walk for you. If you want to walk around in the parking lot for $45, this is the walk for you. If you are walking just to be walking in the dark with foam that you pour on yourself, this is the walk for you. If you are part of the organization of this walk, hire me we have some improvement to do! read more
8 years ago
Went to Sam Houston Parkway, but for the Cirque du Soleil Luzza. Seats were very good although we did not do VIP which are even better seats than these were, not to mention the fabulous lite bites and spirits but because of Grandchildren and other family members not wanting to pay that much we passed. To us, it's a wonderful experience to go that way though. We enjoyed the show, although I needed it translated and it was by far the least impressive performances I have ever seen...I.have been to many, many, many and in Vegas when they were first a phenomena. Some actors/performers were better than others. The Comedian stole the show, the contortionist, we are still talking about. How in the world can he turn his body completely around, is unbelievable, just so eerie, so flexible. Everybody had a great time. Restrooms: not enough available and those who are eligible for handicapped, have to wait for an inconsiderate non diabled to go first. Kept me from missing part of the show and having everybody on the aisle get up to let me pass by. Some people. Parking was $12 and handicapped was close by although directors didn't seem to point to which way to direct us too. All in all, we handled the little things like $6 water bottles and $6 cotton candy before we sat down. The children liked it so it was a hit with them. To me it lacked the magic and costumes,of what would be considered an A game overall performance. read more
The variety you get in Winner's Circle (the only ticket I've bought) is worth 4 stars. I've uploaded the menu for St. Patrick's Day but even when I went last year, there was prime rib (instead of corned beef). The ticket is definitely worth it because where else can you eat a dinner buffet for $30? Even if you are not a horse person, this is the place to be! As for the food quality, I'd probably give 2-3 stars. The food is ok, but I wouldn't say it's the best I've ever eaten. It's better than your standard American buffet restaurant but there were things that were a bit amiss. The cakes sometimes can be dry. There was a blob of powder in my cousin's gumbo that seemingly did not dissolve. There was a hair inside the banana pudding, so be careful and watch out! We had a group of 12, and this was seemingly easy to coordinate on the phone but difficult in execution. Initially I called with a group of 11 in January and added a twelfth person 3 days prior to the event. Upon arrival, I discovered we were only allotted 11 tickets after a friend made a snide comment we were surprisingly all on time because he took the last ticket at will call. Yet, one more person still hadn't arrived. So, this started a conversation with the hostess stand who called the will call person to visit. I had to explain the situation about 5 times to 5 different people, that we were missing a ticket. Finally, the will call guy said, "I'll have a ticket for your friend at will call, no problem." In addition, even if we did have a group of 11, we were only given 10 programs, which were supposed to be included in the group rate. I had also requested a table in the 300s in January because it's easier to see. I was later told a few days prior that we were split into two tables because tables cannot be pushed together to accomodate a large group. That's fine, but I wish I'd known that in January because it caused confusion within our group a few days prior to the event. In addition, we did not receive tables in the 300s and were placed in the 100s instead. We were placed at the finish line, which was nice, but like I told a customer who inquired at the hostess stand, there is no way to reserve a table despite deserving two months in advance. I am aware table placement isn't guaranteed but in January, the lady didn't think it'd be an issue because we were reserving so far ahead of time. It's because of the previous paragraphs I don't give four stars. I think the key is to have no more than 6 in a group. It's hard for this place to accomodate any more people. If you have 8 in a group, you'd be split into a group of 6 and 2, which I think would be awkward. I do realize this means you don't get a group rate, but frankly, there's not THAT much of a benefit. For the group rate in Winner's Circle, you are still charged the same price of a ticket, but a program is included (normally $2 at the race) and your group's name is in the program. I am not the biggest horse person, so I probably will just go annually. This place of course does not have the history of Churchill Downs (who does?) where I've been previously, but if you like horses, you should come here. You can watch the horses up close, and a friend got a picture with one of the jockeys and her horse. Not a bad way to spend St. Patty's night! read more
16 years ago
I came here for the first time friday for a birthday party. It's probably a good thing that I have not come sooner, way too much temptation for my asian blood. They had 50 cent bud brand beer (12 ounces) and they let you buy two at a time. One of the choices of beer was shock top, which was a surprise to see. They have a big selection of foods. I decided to try a spot that had cheeseburger baskets and other interesting sandwiches. I went with one that had sliced BBQ beef, bacon, and a fried egg. The sandwich was amazing given the venue, and the price was more than reasonable. under $7 with a large basket of fries. I was expecting to get gouged fwith low quality food. so cheap drinks - check decent food - check entertainment - check Even if you're not a gambler, you can at least be entertained cheaply. Minimum bets are $2 and you can even go outside to watch the horses up close. Its probably a good thing that I had not discovered this place until now. Its a great change of pace from the normal venues. If you have not been, it is definitely worth giving it a try. read more
13 years ago
4 years ago
Came here with my family to celebrate my brother's bday. The Kooza show at Cirque du Soleil was great. Comedy/Drama meets performing arts meets stunning acrobatics. The only thing I found annoying was to pay for parking when we've already paid for the show. Would still recommend others to go, though. read more
7 years ago
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