Iowa Racing

On Friday--the final day of the National HBPA Conference at Prairie Meadows--a panel entitled "Establishing No-Effect Thresholds and the Importance for the Industry" was led by practicing equine veterinarian and researcher Dr. Clara Fenger. She cited the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Authority's enabling legislation that HISA-covered horses "should compete only when they are free from the influence of medications ..." (her emphasis added). Fenger's point: Testing many substances to limit of detection--if the lab can find it, it's a violation, no matter how tiny the amount and whether it impacts...

Iowa Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg will deliver the keynote address at the 2024 National HBPA Conference set for July 23-26 at Iowa's Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack and Hotel, the association said in a release early Friday morning. Lt. Gov. Gregg will make his remarks on Wednesday, July 24, the conference's first of three days of panel discussions and presentations. Coinciding with the conference will be a starter-allowance race carrying a $50,000 purse. The top three finishers receive automatic entry into the 1 1/16-mile Kent Stirling Memorial Iron Horse, part of...

Can an Iowa-bred who sold for just $34,000 as a yearling, one who has never raced outside Prairie Meadows or in a graded stakes race, an Iowa-bred that is ridden by a female apprentice jockey and named for an 8-year-old who has been battling leukemia win a Breeders' Cup race? We are about to find out. Tyler's Tribe (Sharp Azteca) may not be the best 2-year-old in training, but no juvenile anywhere this year has thrashed his competition to the extent that this gelding has. After winning last Saturday's Prairie...

Prairie Meadows 2022 live racing season will begin Friday, May 13 and conclude Sunday, Oct. 2, the track announced Monday. A total of 84 racing days will be scheduled with both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing offered. The dates have been approved by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC). 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 to be held Thursday, Sept....

The Iowa Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association is conducting an online auction of seasons to more than 100 stallions from 12 states. The auction begins Dec. 5 and closes at 7 p.m. (CDT) Monday, Dec. 14. A list of the stallions donated and details of the auction can be found here. Proceeds from the online auction will fund three stakes races for all 2022 offspring of stallions whose seasons are sold at this auction: The 2024 Stallion Futurity and two 2025 Stallion Stakes races for 3-year-olds, one for colts and...