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Purses Increased Across The Board For 2022 Meet At Prairie Meadows

With a record-breaking year for casino play in 2021, purses for both Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses will see increases across the board for the upcoming 2022 live racing season at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Ia.

The 2022 84-day live racing season begins with 22 days of Thoroughbred-only racing May 13 – June 18 with an additional two days of Thoroughbred-only racing on Thursday, Sept. 29 and Sunday, Oct. 2. The 60-day mixed Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse schedule will take place June 19 – Oct. 1.

Live racing will be offered Fridays – Mondays, with post times set for 6:00 p.m. CDT on Fridays and Saturdays, and 4:00 p.m. CDT on Sundays and Mondays. Post times may change for special race days, events, and holidays.

The Thoroughbred purse structure will see an increase of nearly 5 percent across the board. The bottom level purse will be at $10,500 for maiden claiming $5,000 or beaten claiming $3,500 runners. The top-level purses will range from $32,000 for maiden special weights to $37,500 for no conditioned allowance races.

The Thoroughbred stakes schedule will feature a total of 26 stakes worth an estimated $2,000,000 and will be highlighted by the Iowa Festival of Racing scheduled for Friday, July 8 and Saturday, July 9, and includes the Iowa Classic on Saturday, Oct. 1. Eight overnight allowance stakes worth $50,000 each will be scheduled early in the season mainly as local prep races for the Festival in early July. The Festival will be enhanced this season with two additional stakes added for 2-year-old boys and girls at $100,000 each, The Prairie Gold Lassie and The Prairie Gold Juvenile going 5 ½ furlongs. The main event of the Festival remains the $300,000 Grade 3 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap which was won last year by the gray superstar Knicks Go. Two new stakes will be added for late August for 2-year-old boys and girls at $100,000 each, The Prairie Meadows Debutante and The Prairie Meadows Freshman going 6 furlongs. The Iowa Classic for Iowa bred runners will now feature all seven stakes worth $100,000 each.

The Quarter Horse purse structure will also see significant increases across the board with a 20 to 25 percent jump in overnight purses for 2022. The bottom level purse at $9,000 for maiden $7,500 to $5,000 races and the top-level purses ranging from $13,500 for maiden special weight to $17,000 for no conditioned allowance races. The Quarter Horse stakes schedule will offer 23 races worth an estimated $1.6 million and continue to feature a strong Futurity and Derby schedule for both open and Iowa bred runners, the Bank of America/Prairie Meadows Regional Challenge qualifiers in August, and finishing the season with Quarter Horse Championship Night on Friday, September 30 with the finals of the Valley Junction Futurity (G3) and Altoona Derby along with the Two Rivers (G3) for older 440-yard campaigners and Iowa Classic on Saturday, Oct. 1 featuring an all Iowa bred stakes card highlighted by the Jim Bader Futurity and Polk County Derby.

Horsemen should note that Condition Book 1 and stall application for the 2022 season has been posted online in the Horseman's Information area of Prairie Meadows' website at www.prairiemeadows.com/racing/horsemens-info and will be available in hardcopy form via mail or at Prairie Meadows Racing Office within the next few days.

Condition Book 1 will feature the first 14 days of the 2022 season (Thoroughbred-only racing) plus a preview section for Quarter Horse racing starting on page 66 of the condition book. This previews the first 10 days of Quarter Horse races offered from June 19 – July 4. Stall applications will be due in the Prairie Meadows Racing Office by Wednesday, April 6 for both breeds.

The barn area is scheduled to open for horses on Friday, April 15 and training is set to begin on Sunday, April 17, weather permitting.

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.

To continue receiving information about our 2022 live horse racing season, visit https://www.prairiemeadows.com/signmeup

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Kela’s Turn Named Iowa’s 2021 Horse Of The Year

Loretta McClintock's homebred Kela's Turn earned double honors from the Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association for her accomplishments at Prairie Meadows in 2021.

The talented daughter of Kela – Lauren's Turn (Lion Heart) was recognized as the 2021 ITBOA Horse of the Year and the champion ITBOA “3-year-old filly.”

Kela's Turn earned $233,951 in total purse money last year, winning three of her six starts for her owner under jockey Shane Laviolette for trainer Henry Guillory, Jr.

Her 2021 season started with a bang when Kela's Turn took command early and drew off to a seven-length victory over five rivals in the traditional opening-weekend allowance sprint for the distaff 3-year-olds and up.

Kela's Turn bested the likes of Snapy Gal, 2020 seasonal champ Topless, and eventual top 2021 champion older Iowa-bred mare Naughty Shirley.

She won the Bob Bryant Stakes one month later and finished second to Naughty Shirley in the Mamie Eisenhower Stakes on June 19.

McClintock and Guillory decided to stretch out Kela's Turn into route races in her next two starts, which resulted in a third-place optional claiming finish and a narrow victory over Snapy Gal in The Hawkeyes Handicap at a 1 1/16 miles on Aug. 7.

“We really thought she could get a route of ground,” explained Guillory at the time. “After her first two-turn race, we decided to take the blinkers off and that really made the difference.”

The day after her tenacious victory in The Hawkeyes, Guillory stopped at the Prairie Meadows racing office to view the race again.

“I could watch the replay a hundred times,” Guillory exclaimed. “I knew she could win at two turns and she proved it!”

Guillory dropped Kela's Turn into the entry box more than a few times the rest of August and into early September, but was unable to get his filly into a race before the season-ending Iowa Breeders' Oaks on Iowa Classic Day Sept. 25.

In her first start in almost two months, Kela's Turn settled for second behind open-lengths winner Bossy Moment, an effort that solidified her status as the top Iowa-bred 3-year-old of the season and ITBOA Horse Of The Year for 2021.

“I'm so proud of her and her accomplishments,” said McClintock. “That first allowance race win was amazing! You never know for sure whether or not a young horse is going to move forward off a good two-year-old season or not and she ran like she hadn't missed a beat.”

“Sure, we wanted her to end the season with an Iowa Classic stakes victory,” added McClintock. “But it's pretty tough to go into those races on works alone.”

Guillory added, “She was the best Iowa-bred filly on the grounds all season long. I'm not trying to make excuses, but they all dodged her in the weeks after The Hawkeyes.”

Before the end of 2021, Kela's Turn added to her win total and career earnings with back-to-back victories, including a stakes score, at Delta Downs in Louisiana.

“We'll bring her back to Prairie Meadows for her 4-year-old season,” said McClintock. “We've already got our eyes on the major stakes races for the older fillies and mares. And, if we have to, we'll ship out to take advantage of any opportunities that might come up at other tracks in the Midwest.”

The other Iowa-bred champions of 2021:

2-year-old Iowa-bred colt — Ain't Life Grand, a son of Not This Time – Cat D'Oro (Medaglia D'Oro), won three of his four starts last season for owner/breeder RPM Thoroughbreds of Prairie Meadows Hall of Famers Ray and Peggy Shattuck, earning $128,730.

The precocious 2-year-old set off some fireworks of his own in an impressive Fourth of July debut, breaking alertly under jockey Elvin Gonzalez, seizing command early, and pulling clear to a three-length score.

Under the care of Prairie Meadows Hall of Fame trainer Kelly Von Hemel, Ain't Life Grand finished third in the Iowa Stallion Futurity on July 24, then capped his season with a double-digits tally in the Richard Radke Memorial at one mile on Sept. 4 and a gutsy three-length victory in the Iowa Cradle on Sept. 25.

2-year-old Iowa-bred filly — Demidanu, bred by Iowa State University and running for trainer Kelly Von Hemel, also recorded three wins in four starts during her debut season, posting earnings of $102,390.

Campaigned by the ownership group of Lynette Dreifurst, Dana Hellbusch, Warren Hellbusch, and Anthony Schieffer, Jr., Demidanu scored by eight lengths first time out under jockey Kevin Roman on June 27.

The daughter of Formidable – Soaring Goddess (Desert God) was unplaced in the Iowa Stallion Futurity before winning on Aug. 24 and capping her season with a solid score in the Iowa Sorority on Sept. 25.

3-year-old Iowa-bred colt/gelding — Sir Wally Wally, the son of Revolutionary – Paws Up (Posse), notched two wins from six starts at Prairie Meadows in 2021 for the ownership group of Midnight Thoroughbreds, LLC, Parenza Farms LLC, and Mark Deterding.

Trainer Kelly Von Hemel sent out Sir Wally Wally to stakes scores under Prairie Meadows Hall of Fame jockey Glenn Corbett in the Grays Lake on May 31 and the Iowa Stallion Stakes on July 17.

Older Iowa-bred mare — Naughty Shirley, a daughter Jafmil – Pulpinit (Pulpit) enjoyed the best season of her career during a seven-race campaign as a five-year-old.

Bred by Joe Robson Thoroughbreds and owned by Mercy Man Racing of Dylan Robson, Naughty Shirley recorded back-to-back wins at Prairie Meadows in 2021 under jockey Ken Tohill for trainer Doug Anderson.

She added a victory at Gulfstream Park on November 19, to reach $110,091 in total earnings for her season.

Older Iowa-bred horse — Topper T, a son of Bellamy Road – Des Moines (Evansville), hadn't won a race at Prairie Meadows in almost three years when he tallied an optional claiming sprint score under Shane Laviolette on July 12.

The 2018 Iowa Cradle winner for breeder Black Oak Farm (Sherry Tracy) changed hands four times after his two-year-old year and was claimed out of his July win by owner Gene Burkholder and trainer William Martin.

Topper T ran three times for Burkholder and Martin, winning the Dan Johnson Sprint on Iowa Classic Day to finish 2021 with earnings of $128,094.

The ITBOA also named champions based on earnings at Prairie Meadows in 2021:

Owner/Breeder of the Year—Allen Poindexter, whose Iowa-owned runners earned $854,870 and whose Iowa-bred foals earned $936,399.

Stallion of the Year — Native Ruler, now pensioned at Unbridled Spirits in Lisbon, IA. His progeny earned $430,295.

Broodmare of the Year — Paws Up, owned by Midnight Thoroughbreds, whose offspring earned $166,423.

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Anchor Down Moves To Iowa State University For 2022

Grade 2 winner Anchor Down will move to Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa for the 2022 breeding season, where he will stand for an advertised fee of $3,000.

The 10-year-old son of Tapit previously stood at Gainesway Farm in Kentucky, where he retired to stud in 2017. His oldest foals are 3-year-olds of 2021.

With two crops of racing age, Anchor Down has sired 22 winners and amassed combined progeny earnings in excess of $1.4 million. His six stakes-placed runners include Zia Park Derby runner-up Tesoro, Gulfstream Park stakes runner-up Lionessofbrittany, and Puerto Rican Group 2-placed Captured Prize.

Dr. Nikki Ferwerda, an associate professor of teaching at Iowa State University and manager of the school's horse farm, said ISU had bred to Anchor Down in the past, and their experience with the stallion and the ensuing foal made him a target to acquire.

“Anchor Down was my choice of the available sons of Tapit because he most closely resembled Tapit in appearance and because he appeared most likely to produce runners specializing in the sprinter/miler distance,” Ferwerda said. “The yearling by Anchor Down that Iowa State University consigned to the 2021 Fall Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association Sale was correct, elegant profiling, and prospective buyers frequently commented on her quality of movement. She reminds me a lot of her sire in terms of quality and stride.”

Bred in Kentucky by Gainesway out of the Grade 3-winning Orientate mare Successful Outlook, Anchor Down is a full-brother to Grade 3 winner Iron Fist and a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Sweet Lulu.

Anchor Down won five of 17 starts during his on-track career, earning $734,254. His resume is highlighted by victories in the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap and the G3 Westchester Stakes, along with a runner-up effort in the G1 Metropolitan Handicap.

“Locally, there is a lot of interest in breeding to produce horses that will race in the 6-8 furlong distance on dirt – which is exactly where Anchor Down was successful,” Ferwerda said.

The post Anchor Down Moves To Iowa State University For 2022 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Prairie Meadows Approved For 84 Race Dates In 2022, Including 60 Mixed-Meet Days

Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack, & Hotel has announced the live horse racing dates for the 2022 season, which have been approved by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC).

Prairie Meadows 2022 live racing season will begin on Friday, May 13 and will conclude on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022. 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 on Sunday, June 19 and have 60 days of racing through Saturday, Oct. 1. The two additional days of Thoroughbred-only racing will be held on 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 & 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 reports 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 relayed. “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 3 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 & 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.

About Prairie Meadows

Prairie Meadows began operations as a nonprofit organization in 1989 with the goal of promoting economic development, jobs, agriculture, and tourism in the state of Iowa. Through taxes, grants, and charitable donations, Prairie Meadows has given $2 billion to the state of Iowa. Prairie Meadows offers slot machines, table games, live and simulcast racing, sports wagering, hotel accommodations, entertainment, and more.

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