Board votes to discontinue harness racing at Prairie Meadows
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
- Ruling say Yonkers Raceway owed millions of dollars
- Florida horsemen say 2009 racing meet will end 3 months early
- New Jersey committee report on horse racing states ‘the status quo is not sustainable’
- Adios stakes race probably moving to Pocono Downs for 2008
- Meadowlands bettors to get more handicapping info
- Rachel Alexandra wins the Preakness Stakes
- Rosecroft Raceway to discontinue live racing for up to 2 years
- Another doomed horse racing track- Vernon Downs
- No more live horse racing at Rockingham Park
- Eight is Enough- Edmonton beats Chicago 8-4
- Lydia Ko wins New South Wales Open
- The Comeback I- Pittsburgh Penguins beat NY Islanders 5-0
- Seattle Mariners Outfielder Greg Halman stabbed to death at age 24
- Hee Young Park wins CME Titleholders Championship
- Oklahoma State Women’s Basketball Coach Kurt Budke dead at 50
- Costly mistake- Blackhawks waive Rostislav Olesz
- Manager Tony La Russa announces retirement
- Puck Drop- Florida Panthers start the 2011-12 NHL season
- 13-time PGA Tour winner Dave Hill dead at 74
Comments are Closed