Jockey David Mello Registers 1,000th Win
Leading Prairie Meadows jockey David Mello landed his 1,000th lifetime victory the evening of July 12 when he guided Voodooville to a three-length victory in the fourth race at the Altoona, Iowa, track.
Iowa
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Kid Brock First Winner for Champ Summer Bird
Kid Brock became the first winner for deceased 2009 champion and classic winner Summer Bird when he powered to a clear victory July 6 at Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino.
Carve at His Best in Cornhusker Victory
Michael Langford's Carve, third in the grade II Oaklawn Handicap in April, worked out a nice trip to win the $300,000 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (gr. II) at Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino the evening of June 28.
Jessica's Star Rallies to Take Iowa Derby
Mark Breen's Jessica's Star, winner of the Prairie Mile on a muddy track in his last start, parlayed that experience into an upset score in the $250,000 Iowa Derby (gr. III) on a sloppy track at Prairie Meadows June 28.
Size Handles Distance, Captures Iowa Oaks
Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's Size captured her first stakes and third win overall in four starts with a handy upset victory in the $200,000 Iowa Oaks (gr. III) at Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino June 28.
Golden Ticket Heads Cornhusker Field
Golden Ticket, who dead-heated for the victory in the 2012 Travers Stakes at Saratoga and who won last year at Prairie Meadows, returns to Iowa and is the 3-1 morning-line choice in the nine-furlong Cornhusker Handicap.
Ria Antonia Gets in Light in Iowa Oaks
Last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner gets nine pounds from Sugar Shock.
Morales Arrested for Possession of Buzzers
Jockey Roberto Morales has been suspended pending a hearing by Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino stewards after law enforcement officials charged him with possession of an unlawful electrical device.
Iowa Casinos Can Terminate Greyhound Racing
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad May 31 signed into law a bill that will allow casinos to buy out dog racing, but there could be legislation in 2015 to hammer out simulcast revenue splits for Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing.
Iowa Groups Fighting Over Simulcast Revenue
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad said he is unsure whether he will sign legislation that would allow casinos to buy out Greyhound racing because of an objection raised by horse interests over full-card simulcasts.
Iowa Stallion Rule Change Called Positive
Iowa has removed a restriction requiring Iowa-registered stallions to be owned by in-state residents, and breeders believe the legislative change with foster growth in the program.
Prairie Meadows Opposes Proposed Casino
Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino is opposing a proposed casino in Jefferson, Iowa, that it estimates would reduce its gaming revenue by nearly $13 million.
Prairie Meadows' Purses to Average $220,000
Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino has announced an average daily purse structure of about $220,000 during the 67-day Thoroughbred meet from April 18-Aug. 9.
2013 Iowa-Bred Champions Announced
Wolf Pack Jack has been named the 2013 Iowa-bred Horse of the Year after winning four of six starts and earning $154,770 as a 3-year-old.
Pope to Return to Prairie Meadows in 2014
Pat Pope has been hired as racing secretary at Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino for its 2014 season.
Iowa Breeders Seek Stallion Rule Change
Iowa breeders are seeking legislation to end a requirement that a registered stallion in the state must be owned by an Iowa resident. Currently, at least 51% of an Iowa-registered sire must be owned by an Iowa resident.
Prairie Meadows Ups Minimum Open Stakes Purse
Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino will boost the standard minimum purse for unrestricted stakes to $75,000 when its Thoroughbred meet runs April 18 to Aug. 9.
Online Stallion Season Auction Set for Iowa
Breeding seasons to more than 140 stallions from 20 states will be up for bid in an online auction for the ITBOA Stallion Stakes Dec. 7-14.
Prairie Meadows Schedule Remains in Dispute
The 67-day Thoroughbred meet at Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino will run from April 18-Aug. 9 in 2014, but its racing week is still in dispute.
Mello Sets Prairie Meadows Win Record
Jockey David Mello broke the record for number of victories during a Thoroughbred meet at Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino when he won two stakes on Iowa Classic Night Aug. 3.
Judge Blocks Opening of Slaughterhouses
A federal judge in New Mexico Aug. 2 issued a restraining order that will keep two horse slaughterhouses from opening as planned the week of Aug. 4.
Longshot Looking Cool Takes Iowa Derby
Jim Tafel's homebred Looking Cool certainly kept his cool in the heat of battle down the Prairie Meadows stretch June 29 to prevail by a neck at 17-1 odds in the $250,000 Iowa Derby (gr. III).
Prayer for Relief Answers All in Cornhusker
Zayat Stables' Prayer for Relief, second in his only two starts this year, broke through with a victory in the $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap (gr. III) at Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino June 29.
Fiftyshadesofhay Looks Fierce in Iowa Oaks
Recent graded stakes winners So Many Ways, Fiftyshadesofhay, and Seaneen Girl are among the full field of 10 that are set to clash in the June 29 Iowa Oaks (gr. III) at Prairie Meadows.
Our Double Play Aims for Triple in Iowa Derby
Our Double Play will try to extend his win streak to three races when the Grand Slam colt faces six other 3-year-olds in the $250,000 Iowa Derby (gr. III) June 29 at Prairie Meadows.
Silver Max, Prayer for Relief Top Cornhusker
Six horses are entered in the grade III, 1 1/8-mile race at Prairie Meadows on the night of June 29.
Keller Named Prairie Meadows Racing Secretary
Prairie Meadows has named Chad Keller, who has been with the Altoona, Iowa, track since 2000, its new racing secretary over Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing.
Canterbury, Prairie Partner on State-Breds
Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino in Iowa and Canterbury Park in Minnesota are joining forces to offer more racing opportunities for state-bred runners via joint restricted races.
Dunkirk Colt Leads Way at Iowa Mixed Sale
A Dunkirk colt brought $36,000 to top the Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association fall mixed sale Aug. 26 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.
Graded Winner Chelokee Sires First Winner
Lady Kee became the first winner by Chelokee when she scored by 5 1/2 lengths in a maiden special weight race at Prairie Meadows July 8.
Richards Elected National HBPA President
Robin Richards was elected president and Stephanie Beattie first vice president of the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association during the organization's board of directors meeting July 1 in Iowa.
Protecting Gaming Purse Funds a Challenge
Protecting purse revenue from alternative gaming can be as hard, or harder, than winning legislative approval for it, horsemen said June 30 during a National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association roundtable talk.
Quest to Ban Race-Day Salix Called 'Insanity'
During a June 29 meeting that showed the battle over race-day furosemide is escalating, supporters ripped their opponents and vowed to take their case -- that the medication is good for the racehorse -- to the public.
TVG On Site for Iowa Festival of Racing
TVG will present live, on-site television coverage of the Iowa Festival of Racing from Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa, this weekend.
Birzer Now Has 1,000 Prairie Meadows Wins
Alex Birzer became the second jockey to win 1,000 races at Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino June 24 when he won the fourth race with Lazeka.
Hawkeye Highlight: Gary Lucas & Awesomemundo
Iowa breeder/owner gets awesome results with Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes winner Awesomemundo. read blog
Prairie Meadows Amends Entry Schedule
Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino has changed the entry schedule for its 2012 Thoroughbred meet, which begins Friday, April 20.
TVG, Prairie Meadows, Horsemen in ADW Deal
Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino and the Iowa Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association have selected TVG as the provider for an advance deposit wagering system.
Hutton Named to Prairie Meadows' Position
Prairie Meadows announced Jan. 23 the appointment of Fred Hutton as racing secretary for the 67-day meet that runs April 20-Aug. 11.
Iowa Track, Horsemen Partner on ADW System
Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino and the Iowa Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association have announced they are collaborating on the development of the state's first legal online wagering platform.
Native Ruler to Abraham's Equine
Maggi Moss has retired multiple stakes winner Native Ruler from racing for stallion duty in 2012 at Abraham's Equine Clinic near Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Woke Up Dreamin to Madison County in Iowa
Grade II winner Woke Up Dreamin, who has sired a champion and six stakes horses from his first two crops, will stand in 2012 at Merrill and Connie Schutz' Madison County Thoroughbred Farm near Macksburg, Iowa.
Prairie's June 25 Card Handles $1.2M
Prairie Meadows announces its June 25 program produces its best handle in three years; second largest Saturday program in track's history.
Prairie Meadows Has Eight-Year Lease Deal
Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino June 24 approved a new eight-year lease with Polk County that will pay the county $26 million in each of the first three years and perhaps more after that.
Iowa Trainer's License Revoked by Stewards
Prairie Meadows stewards have revoked Joseph Nealon's license to "protect the public's health, safety, and welfare and to protect the public from a person who should not hold a trainer's license."
Jockey Zimmerman Charged With Four Felonies
Iowa-based jockey Ramsay Zimmerman was arrested in Des Moines and charged with four felonies, including possession and intent to deliver crack cocaine and heroin, the morning of May 10.
More Than 150 Seasons in ITBOA Online Auction
More than 150 seasons to stallions standing in 23 states will be offered during the Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association's annual online stallion season auction from Dec. 4-11.
Recommendations Made for Prairie Meadows
An executive with Oaklawn Park has recommended that the lines of communication between horsemen and upper management be improved at Prairie Meadows.
Launch Light Lady Tops Iowa Mixed Sale
Maggi Moss purchases the 2-year-old stakes-winning filly for $55,000.
Champion Added Edge Sires First Winner
Ginger Added won her initial start to become the first winner by Canadian champion Added Edge.
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