Prairie Meadows Announces Live Racing Dates for 2022

Prairie Meadows' 2022 live racing season will begin Friday, May 13 and conclude Sunday, Oct. 2, the track announced Dec. 6 after its race dates were approved by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. A total of 84 racing days will be scheduled with both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing offered.

The season begins with 22 days of Thoroughbred-only racing from May 13-June 18 and continues with a mixed Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse schedule of 60 race days along with two additional days of Thoroughbred-only racing. Quarter Horses will start racing Sunday, June 19 and have 60 days of racing through Saturday, Oct. 1. The two additional days of Thoroughbred-only racing will be held Thursday, Sept. 29 and Sunday, Oct. 2. 

Live racing will be offered on a Friday-Monday schedule with the exception of the final week of racing which will feature a Thursday-Sunday schedule. Information on post times, special race days, events, and holiday racing will be announced at a later date. 

Prairie Meadows racing management is currently working with the Iowa Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association, and Iowa Quarter Horse Racing Association on details regarding the 2022 racing season for both Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses.

Assistant Racing Secretary Chad Keller reported that the projections for purse money available in 2022 are looking strong for both breeds.

"We are still in discussions regarding Thoroughbred purses and stakes but the potential is there to see an increase in overnight purses and within the stakes program," Keller said. "On the Quarter Horse side, we have agreed that Quarter Horse overnight purses are projected to increase around 20% across the board so the range of overnight purse levels would feature a low of $9,000 and a high of $16,200 for open company races. Iowa-bred purses would range from $12,056 to $21,700 including their supplement funds.

"Quarter Horses in Iowa will be racing for the longest period of time in their history here with 60 race days over more than three months in 2022 and depending on how strong the horse inventory is, the potential to run nearly 10% more races for Quarter Horses would be possible. The Quarter Horse stakes program will follow a similar format as in 2021 with a few adjustments to some races for 2022."

The first condition book along with the stall application will be available in early 2022. Quarter Horse Futurity and Derby nomination forms and stakes schedule information will be available in the coming weeks. Additional details on the upcoming 2022 live racing season will be announced and posted at https://www.prairiemeadows.com/racing as they become available.