Trainer J.R. Cardwell more than ready for the 2022 Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred Meet
At 0h05, on January 4, 2022 • By SAM HOUSTON
Thoroughbred trainer J. R. Caldwell always loved horses. He rode on the bush tracks as a young teenager and assisted his father, Roscoe, running horses in Utah, Arizona, Wyoming and Idaho for decades before going out on his own at the age of 18. The wins did not come very often in the beginning, but in 2008, the tide changed. His top earner, Texas Chrome, was a two-time Texas Thoroughbred Association Horse of the Year and is now standing stud in Arkansas. Caldwell set up shop at Churchill Downs, Remington Park, Delta Downs and Lone Star Park. Two years ago, he finished tenth in the standings at Sam Houston Race Park. He remembers the end of 2020 as a turning point for himself and his stable.
“I was mentally fatigued and pulled my horses out of Remington Park,” he recalled. “Sam Houston got a nice boost in purses and despite the challenges of COVID-19, they worked with us.”
Caldwell started the 2021 season here strongly, and finished second in the standings with 34 victories, 21 seconds and 23 third-place finishes. His runners hit the board at a respectable 56% with Sky Ride, winning the Stonerside Stakes in a dead-heat with Hollis and taking the Bucharest Stakes on closing night of the season.
“Finishing second to Steve (Asmussen) is like being leading trainer,” quipped Caldwell. “But Houston got us off to a great start for the year and we did well at Lone Star as well. It was the third-best year of my career.”
The 2022 live racing season opens on Thursday, January 6 at 5:00 pm (CT). Live racing will also take place on Friday and Saturday at 7:45 pm. There will be a special 2:45 pm post time for the Houston Racing Festival on Sunday, January 30. Wednesday cards, beginning on February 16, will be added to the schedule with a 5:00 pm first post. The Thoroughbred meet concludes on Saturday, April 9.
