The Texas Racing Commission on Tuesday approved Lone Star Park's request for two additional race dates after the Dallas area track lost nearly eight cards when a racing operations staff member tested postiive for the coronavirus. The additional dates are both Wednesdays, Aug. 5 and the new closing day, Aug. 12. 

Lone Star canceled after the first race July 5, when it was learned the employee tested positive. The track resumed racing Sunday, July 19. 

Kent Slabotsky, vice president of operations for Lone Star, addressed the commission Tuesday. He gave an operations update, and said the track intends to card 10 or 11 races a day going forward in order to offset the lost races. Lone Star has been generally putting on nine-race cards. He said handle is up significantly. As of Monday, Slabotsky said approximately $300,000 was added to the purse fund at Lone Star. 

The new schedule makes for a 36-date race meet. Lone Star intended to race 44 dates for Thoroughbreds this year starting April 16, but the coronavirus pandemic led to a later start date of May 22. 

Lone Star's sister track, Remington Park, is scheduled to open Aug. 21. 

Lone Star is scheduled to race today, Tuesday, and has four restricted stakes on its card for Wednesday. 

More on the stakes Wednesday