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Prairie Meadows Hosts Media ahead of New Season

Prairie Meadows will host media Monday, Apr. 26 at 9 a.m. in advance of the oval's opening day Apr. 30. The media will be provided with video footage, photos, and candid interviews with Prairie Meadows executives and racing personnel. To participate at Prairie Meadows' media conference, contact Hallie.Browne@prairiemeadows.com.

Opening day, with first post at 6 p.m., will be followed by the simulcast of the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 1. Races can be viewed from three locations on property, with the largest area outdoors near the track. Admission to the races and parking are free.

This season, Prairie Meadows will host its first “Running of the Bulls” Bulldog Races May 31 featuring British and English bulldogs. Wiener Dog Races will be held June 20 in honor of Father's Day and Camel, Zebra, & Ostrich Races take place July 18. Festival of Racing, Prairie Meadows' highest grade stakes races and the Iowa Classic, featuring all Iowa bred horses, are also returning this season. This year will be the second season that Prairie Meadows has featured a mixed meet format with both Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses racing on the same day. The season kicks off with Thoroughbreds only through June 14 and the remainder of the season will feature both breeds.

To see the entire 2021 schedule, visit www.prairiemeadows.com/racing.

The post Prairie Meadows Hosts Media ahead of New Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Prairie Meadows Brings Bobby Neuman Back To The Announcer’s Booth

Accomplished track announcer Bobby Neuman, whose resume includes successful stints at Calder Race Course in Florida and Los Alamitos Race Course in California, will call the races at Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack, and Hotel during the 84-day 2021 live horse racing season that begins on Friday, April 30 and runs through Saturday, Sept. 25.

“I'm really excited about getting back into the booth,” Neuman said by phone after his hiring. “Calling the races has always been my passion and I believe I will bring an accurate, entertaining, and professional approach to the fans watching Prairie Meadows racing on-track, in the simulcast outlets, and at home.”

“I see the horses, the jockeys, the trainers, and the owners as the stars of the show,” Neuman added. “It's the job of a good announcer to put the spotlight on their accomplishments on the race track.”

Neuman earned a degree in Business Administration through the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program before embarking on what has become a well-traveled career as a track announcer.

“I started calling at the Arizona fairs in the early 90s.” he recalled. “I was at Thistledown for three years, at Calder for 15 years, I called harness races at The Red Mile and Pompano Park, I had a fill-in stint at Churchill Downs, and I was in the booth at Los Alamitos for four Thoroughbred meets through 2019.”

Neuman will step into his role at Prairie Meadows on Friday, May 7 after fulfilling his commitment to work Kentucky Oaks Friday and Kentucky Derby Saturday at Churchill Downs for Horse Racing Radio Network.

“I'm grateful that Prairie Meadows Vice President of Racing Derron Heldt offered me the opportunity to call the races in Iowa this season,” added Neuman. “And I am appreciative that he has given his approval for me to honor my Derby week commitment to HRRN.”

Former Prairie Meadows track announcer Ken Miller will handle the race calling duties for the first two days of the 2021 season on Friday, April 30 and Saturday, May 1.

The post Prairie Meadows Brings Bobby Neuman Back To The Announcer’s Booth appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Iowa HBPA’s Moss Wants To Stop Recently Signed HISA Law From Being Implemented

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020, has been billed as the impetus for significant changes in the United States horse racing industry. The Iowa Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association executive director Jon Moss isn't sure that's a good thing, according to radioiowa.com.

“This new group that is being formed is unchecked in how much they can charge us as the state of Iowa in order to actually regulate the racing industry within the state,” Moss told radioiowa.com. “There's going to be a reckoning coming — we're going to be in a tough position. We may reach out and request something of your assistance to try and help stop this from being implemented.”

By law, the latest HISA can go into effect is July 1, 2022. The previously formed nominating committee is in the process of selecting the nine members who will comprise the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (five independent members from outside of the horse industry, four from within the industry but without current investments or conflicts of interest). The Authority has been charged with contracting with the United States Anti-Doping Agency to oversee the anti-doping/medication control program on a national basis.

Two working committees also will be named. For more information on what comes next, read answers to frequently asked questions, as supplied by Marc Summers, vice president and general counsel for The Jockey Club, which helped steer the legislation through Congress.

Iowa Commission Approves 84 Live Race Dates For Prairie Meadows In 2021

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 (IRGC) 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 Horseman's Information area of Prairie Meadows' website at www.prairiemeadows.com/racing/horsemens-info and is also available in hardcopy 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.

The post Iowa Commission Approves 84 Live Race Dates For Prairie Meadows In 2021 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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