PRAIRIE MEADOWS QUARTER HORSE DAYS REDUCED TO 15

November 3, 2009 - The Prairie Meadows board of directors on October 28 voted on the race dates for 2010 and beyond.

By an 8-4 margin, they increased Thoroughbred days to 70 and decreased Quarter Horse days to 15. Harness racing has been eliminated completely. This plan replaces one that had 56 Thoroughbred days and 30 Quarter Horse days.

The Iowa Quarter Horse Racing Association is requesting anyone that has raced at Prairie Meadows in the last couple of years to please e-mail Chris Hovey at chovey@wildblue.net with a letter explaining how this shortened meet will effect future Quarter Horse racing at Prairie Meadows.

"We have received quite a few letters from trainers stating that they will not becoming up here because of the costs of transportation, setting up stalls and employee costs, etc." explained Hovey. "We are also aware this decrease in racing days will have a detrimental effect on our ability to attract jockeys. We are going to present these letters to the next Iowa racing and gaming commission meeting next Thursday in hopes of showing them that 15 racing days is not in the best interest of our industry."