Iowa's Prairie Meadows, which is set to begin its 2022 live racing season Friday, May 13, will see an average 5% increase in purses across the board. The 84 Thoroughbred racing days will be interspersed with Quarter Horse racing, which will see that breed's purses raised by up to 25%.
The Thoroughbred purse structure includes a total of 26 stakes worth an estimated $2 million, highlighted by the Iowa Festival of Racing July 8-9. Last year's edition of the $300,000 GIII Prairie Meadows Cornhusker H. during the Festival was won by probable Horse of the Year Knicks Go (Paynter). Other purses will range from $32,000 for maiden special weights to $37,500 for no-conditioned allowance races, while maiden claiming $5,000 or beaten claiming $3,500 runners will run for $10,500.
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. Post times are 6 p.m. CT on Fridays and Saturdays, and 4 p.m. CT on Sundays and Mondays.
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