Sam Houston Race Park is renaming one of its Texas Preview Stakes to honor the late David E. Hooper, a former executive director of the Texas Thoroughbred Association and a prominent figure in the horse racing industry.
‣ Sam Houston Race Park is renaming one of its five Texas Preview Stakes to honor the late executive David E. Hooper, who had a long career in the horse racing industry.
‣ Hooper served as the executive director of the Texas Thoroughbred Association from 1997 to 2012, and held several regulatory positions in the industry, including executive secretary of the Illinois Racing Board.
‣ In 2018, Hooper received the Pete Pedersen Award from the Racing Officials Accreditation Program and served as a coordinator and lecturer at the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program.
“Sam Houston To Honor Executive David Hooper With Race” – this is the headline that’s been making waves.
It’s Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at 10:34 am. We’re back with some top news.
David and Martha Hooper, a couple well-known in the horse racing industry, are in the spotlight. A courtesy of the Hooper Family, we’ve got some news about them.
There’s a big event coming up. One of the five Texas Preview Stakes on Saturday, Feb. 17, has a new name. It’s been renamed to honor executive David E. Hooper.
Why the honor? Well, David passed away on May 29 after a tough battle with cancer. Sam Houston Race Park announced this in a release on Wednesday.
David wasn’t just any executive. The 88-year-old had a long and illustrious career in the horse racing industry. His resume? It included serving as the executive director of the Texas Thoroughbred Association from 1997-2012.
But that’s not all. Hooper held several regulatory positions. He was the executive secretary of the Illinois Racing Board. Plus, he was a steward in eight states.
2018 was a big year for him. He was the recipient of the Pete Pedersen Award from the Racing Officials Accreditation Program. He didn’t just receive awards, though. He also served as coordinator and lecturer at the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program.
Mary Ruyle from TTA had some kind words to say about him. “Dave did an incredible job for our association and working with him was a pleasure,” she said. “He always looked forward to Texas Champions Day at Sam Houston Race Park and celebrating the growth and excellence of Texas racing.”
That’s the news for now. Stay tuned for more updates. And remember, your TDN download has begun. If the download does not complete, Click Here. Don’t miss another story from the TDN. Click Here to sign up for a free subscription.
