Board votes to discontinue harness racing at Prairie Meadows
 |
Bill Jempty | Thursday, May 28, 2009 |
The Iowa track is cutting back on all forms of horse racing. From the Des Moines Register-
Prairie Meadows’ board voted to adopt a new racing format for 2010 over the objections of thoroughbred owners, who said a shorter season would cripple horse breeding in Iowa.
AdvertisementThe board voted 9-0 with three abstentions in favor of a 2010 season that would have a 56-day thoroughbred meet followed by a 30-day quarter horse season, and no harness racing.
This year, Prairie Meadows offers a 50-day thoroughbred season, a 32-day mixed thoroughbred-quarter horse meet and a 16-day harness meet.
Betting and horse breeding have decreased over a decade, and the thoroughbred meet has fought horse shortages and small fields. The track in 2008 paid $20million in purses while taking in $4.8 million in pari-mutuel betting revenue. Including other expenses, the total loss has been estimated between $23 million and $29 million.
These losses occurred despite the fact that Prairie Meadows being a casino in addition to its hosting horse races. This throws cold water on the beliefs of some horsemen that other forms of gambling can save racing industry.
If there are any Iowans among my readers, can one of you tell me if there are any other harness tracks still operating in your state? I seem to recall there being one in the Quad Cities area of the state.
- Rosecroft Raceway ceases operations
- Florida horsemen say 2009 racing meet will end 3 months early
- Adios stakes race probably moving to Pocono Downs for 2008
- Rachel Alexandra wins the Preakness Stakes
- Another doomed horse racing track- Vernon Downs
- Rosecroft Raceway to discontinue live racing for up to 2 years
- Decline of horse racing in Maryland
- Linda Rice is Saratoga’s leading trainer for 2009
- Michigan horse racing tracks may shut down in November
- Horse owners want bigger share of slots revenue at Pompano Tracetrack
- Ex-Claimer wins Breeders Cup Dirt Mile
- Ship wreck- Navy beats Notre Dame 23-21
- NY Islander Defenseman Radek Martinek out for the year with a torn ACL
- Oh have the mighty fallen- Purdue beats Michigan 38-36
- Out of luck- Northwestern beats Iowa 17-10
- Minnesota Twins acquire SS J.J. Hardy from Milwaukee
- U of New Mexico soccer player Elizabeth Lambert suspended indefinitely
- FIU loses to Northwood 71-61
- Florida Marlins trade OF Jeremy Hermida to Boston
- San Francisco Giant P Tim Lincecum charged with marijuana possession
Comments are Closed
