Retama Park near San Antonio is working toward opening a meet for Quarter Horses, a representative of the track told the Texas Racing Commission during a meeting Thursday. 

The agency asked tracks for updates during its second meeting in just over a week's time as racing has been disrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Retama had been scheduled to open a mixed meet for Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses in early July. At the previous commission meeting, the meet that runs into September was not certain to be run. But on Thursday, a representative from Retama said talks have been ongoing with industry stakeholders to hold a meet for Quarter Horses and transfer Thoroughbred purse funds to Lone Star Park near Dallas.

Lone Star launched its Thoroughbred meet last Friday, with the season delayed about five weeks to the coronavirus pandemic. There has not yet been a meet this year for Quarter Horses in Texas, as Sam Houston Race Park was forced to cancel its season due to the pandemic. 

Retama could have its stable area ready to receive horses June 8.

 The plan has the support of the Texas Horsemen’s Partnership, according to a representative of the organization that is made up of boards for Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse interests.

 The meet will need approvals from the commission, which was receptive to Retama’s plans. Retama said it is waiting on final paperwork before submitting firm plans to the commission - paperwork that could come through as early as Thursday or Friday. 

 The commission on Thursday also heard updates from Lone Star and Gillespie County Fair. The latter, which operates a small summer mixed meet in Fredericksburg, said plans were on schedule for its traditional eight dates of racing.

Lone Star saw increases in handle over its three-day opener last Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and with more tracks opening around the country will now test a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday schedule of racing, a track representative told the commission. In the near future, Lone Star expects to present for commission approval a final schedule of days to be run.