Sam Houston Race Park Extends Contract With Champion Energy

HOUSTON, March 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Scott Fordham, president and chief executive officer of Champion Energy Services (www.championenergyservices.com), and Andrea Young, president and chief operating officer of Sam Houston Race Park, have extended the contract to provide electric energy to Sam Houston Race Park (www.shrp.com), Houston's premier racing, dining and entertainment destination through 2014.

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"We are excited to extend Sam Houston Race Park as a commercial electricity customer, and we are equally excited to be a platinum partner of this landmark property," said Fordham. "The Park's dynamic management team has a winning game plan that will continue to elevate the venue's widespread appeal as a thriving entertainment destination, providing unique opportunities for Champion Energy to reach potential customers in this densely populated and rapidly growing Northwest Houston market."

More than 750,000 people visit The Park annually for live and simulcast horse races, concerts, music festivals and other marquee events such as Cirque du Soleil performances, Houston's largest aerial fireworks show, cook offs, family days and other celebrations. Open 364 days a year, The Park also offers a range of hospitality options for trade shows, conferences, corporate meetings and special events, and features dining options at the Winner's Circle Restaurant and the Champion Energy Services Jockey Club.

"We are pleased to extend this valued partnership," said Andrea Young. "This relationship will allow Champion Energy to continue to showcase its products to our diverse customer base while also helping us understand and manage our utility costs. We look forward to working with Scott Fordham and his team for years to come."

About Champion Energy Services

Houston-based Champion Energy Services ranks among the top retail electric providers in the United States. The company also ranks "Highest in Residential Customer Satisfaction with Retail Electric Services," according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Texas Residential Retail Electric Provider Customer Satisfaction Study™ released August 2010, as detailed at jdpower.com. Champion Energy currently serves residential, commercial and industrial customers in deregulated electric energy markets in Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio and New Jersey. Backed by the financial strength of Texas-based Crane Capital and EDF Trading North America, LLC, the company serves 700,000 residential customer equivalents, with a peak load of near 2,000 megawatts.  PUCT No. 10098, PA PUC license A-2009-2124113, Ohio PUC certificate 09-166E(1), Illinois (ICC) docket 10-0168, New Jersey BPU license ESL-0082.

About Sam Houston Race Park

Sam Houston Race Park is Houston's premier racing and entertainment facility, located 15 minutes from downtown Houston, and offers a variety of attractions including 19 luxury suites overlooking the race track, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at the Winner's Circle Restaurant and the Champion Energy Service Jockey Club. The Park's newest addition, The Showgrounds, is an all-ages, outdoor, 15,000-capacity venue that hosts annual country, classic rock and contemporary concert events throughout the year. The 2011 American Quarter Horse meet commences on Friday, March 11th and runs through Sunday, May 15th with races every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For more information on upcoming shows, events and tickets, visit www.shrp.com.

CONTACT: Scott Fordham, President & Chief Executive Officer, Champion Energy Services, +1-281-653-1813, [email protected]; or Kyle Brown, Director of Marketing & Media Relations, Sam Houston Race Park, +1-281-807-8771, [email protected].

SOURCE Champion Energy Services