Live Racing Returns to Prairie Meadows April 30
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Photo: Coady Photography
Racing at Prairie Meadows
Live horse racing returns to Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack, & Hotel on Friday, April 30 when the Altoona, IA, facility opens its 32nd season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse action.
On Thursday, Jan. 21, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission approved an 84-day 2021 race meet for Prairie Meadows.
The season begins with 26 days of Thoroughbred-only racing from April 30 - June 14 and continues with a mixed Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse schedule for the remaining 58 race days through Sept. 25.
Live racing will be offered on a Friday - Monday schedule, with post times set for 6 PM CDT on Fridays and Saturdays, and 4 PM CDT on Sundays and Mondays, with exceptions for special race days, events, and holidays.
Horsemen should note that Condition Book 1 and stall application for the 2021 season will be posted online in the Horsemen's Information area of Prairie Meadows' website at www.prairiemeadows.com/racing/horsemens-info and is also available in hard copy form via mail or at Prairie Meadows Racing Office.
Condition Book 1 will include the first 18 days of the 2021 season (Thoroughbred-only racing). Stall Applications will be due in the Racing Office on Wednesday, March 24.
The barn area is scheduled to open for horses on Friday, April 2 and training is set to begin on Sunday, April 4, weather permitting.
Prairie Meadows will offer 32 Thoroughbred stakes races in 2021 (including overnight stakes) worth an estimated $2.92 million. The highlights of the Thoroughbred stakes calendar are the Iowa Festival of Racing on Friday, July 2 and Saturday, July 3 and the traditional Iowa Classic stakes races on Saturday, Sept. 25.
In addition, the track will offer 23 Quarter Horse stakes races in 2021 worth an estimated $1.6 million, highlighted by the Bank of America/Prairie Meadows Regional Challenge Finals on Saturday, Aug. 14 and Sunday, Aug. 15, Prairie Meadows Quarter Horse Championships on Friday, Sept. 24, and Iowa Classic stakes races for the Quarter Horses on Saturday, Sept. 25.
Quarter Horse connections are reminded that Futurity and Derby nomination forms are available online, by mail, or by request through the Prairie Meadows Racing Office.
Payment schedules begin March 1 for the Prairie Meadows Gold Futurity and Derby, Hawkeye Futurity, Cyclone Derby, and Iowa Quarter Horse Stallion Futurity and Derby.
Payment schedules begin April 1 for the Valley Junction Futurity, Altoona Derby, Jim Bader Futurity, and Polk County Derby.