Prairie Meadows Intends to Begin 67-Day Meet June 19

Pending approval from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, Prairie Meadows will begin a COVID-19-delayed meet June 19 for an extended season continuing through Oct. 10. The backstretch will open June 1 and training will commence shortly afterward for the mixed-breed meet.

Originally scheduled for an 84-day season from May 1-Sept. 26, the Altoona track will now offer Thoroughbred racing over 67 dates, the minimum permitted by Iowa statute. The season will begin with nine-race Thoroughbred cards for the first week before mixed-breed cards with Quarter Horses begin and continue through Sept. 27. Then the track will wind down the meet with six-race cards exclusively for Thoroughbreds from Sept. 28-Oct. 10.

"We're excited to get back and get things going again," Prairie Meadows president and CEO Gary Palmer said. 

The start of racing at Prairie Meadows comes four days after the track's casino opens June 15, limited to 50% capacity by state restrictions.

Racing could take place in front of spectators at some point during the Prairie Meadows racing season, perhaps even early in the meet. This week Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a proclamation that effective June 1 a state horse track could have attendance at 50% capacity if social distancing and other health guidelines related to COVID-19 are followed.

"The (Governor) has a declaration out to the 17th of June, and then she will bring out another one," Palmer said. "That gives us a little time to work with the commission and the governor's office to figure out what in fact we are going to do. Right now we do not have a clear direction on that."

Purse levels and the track's stakes schedule are expected to be finalized in the coming days after Derron Heldt, vice president of racing at Prairie Meadows, meets with horsemen representatives. Purses are likely to be reduced.

Prairie Meadows supplements purses from casino revenue. The casino suspended operations due to COVID-19 March 16.

"There will obviously be some changes coming, a considerable amount of change to the stakes calendar. We just haven't agreed to that yet," said Jon Moss, executive director of the Iowa Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. "I think I'm comfortable saying that part of the consideration is maintaining Iowa-bred stakes races. And consideration for other stakes races is important and which ones should be reduced. Prairie Meadows also has considerations as well. They have the Festival of Racing, a couple graded stakes that are important to them. We understand that."

Last July's two-day Festival of Racing at Prairie Meadows featured numerous stakes, highlighted by the $300,000 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G3), the $200,000 Iowa Oaks (G3), and the $250,000 Iowa Derby.

The amended racing season calls for racing mostly on a Friday through Monday schedule with first post at 6 p.m. CT, except on Sundays and Mondays, when racing begins at 4 p.m.

Moss anticipates approval of the racing season by the state commission when it meets June 4, stating that all parties are on board with the proposed schedule.