ALTOONA, IA—JUNE 13, 2013—Prairie Meadows Racing Secretary Chad Keller reminds horsemen of upcoming important dates with regard to the track’s 2013 American Quarter Horse meet.

The initial nomination payment deadline for the $75,000A (est. $225,000) Valley Junction Futurity (GIII) and the $50,000A (est. $100,000) Altoona Derby (GIII) are due on April 15. The Valley Junction Futurity (350 yards) is the richest race of the meet, open to all two-year-olds. The Altoona Derby (400 yards) is the richest derby of the meet, open to all three-year-olds.

Stall Applications for the 2013 Quarter Horse meet will be available by April 15. The First Condition Book of the 2013 Quarter Horse meet will be available on or about May 1.

The American Quarter Horse season starts on Saturday, August 17. The 26-day format will be exclusive with eight or more races each race day and an average of $130,000 per day in purses. The 2013 stakes schedule, worth an estimated $1.3 million, will feature 10 graded races among 21 stakes overall. Prairie Meadows Quarter Horse Champions Night is October 11, which annually draws some of the midwest’s top athletes to compete in three Grade III stakes, Two Rivers, Altoona Derby, and Valley Junction Futurity. Iowa Champions Night is Saturday, October 12, featuring some of Iowa’s finest statebreds.

Nomination forms are available at prairiemeadows.com. Nominations and payments can be sent by U.S. Mail to Prairie Meadows, c/o Racing Office-Clerk of Course, PO Box 1000, Altoona, Iowa 50009-0901, or to the courier delivery address at One Prairie Meadows Drive, Altoona, Iowa 50009.

Horsemen wishing to be added to the mailing list for Condition Books and Stall Applications may contact the Prairie Meadows Racing Office at 800-325-9015 ext. 1205, or by email to Racing Secretary Chad Keller, chad.keller@prairiemeadows.com. Horsemen are also encouraged to visit www.prairiemeadows.com “Racing” for additional information.

Race 1 post times for the Quarter Horse meet will be 6:30 p.m. (CT) on Fridays and Saturdays, and 1:00 p.m. on Sundays. The Quarter Horses will also race on one Thursday night during their season – October 10, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Post times for the Prairie Meadows Thoroughbred meet (April 19-August 10) will be 6:30 p.m. (CT) on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and 1:00 p.m. on Sundays.

Prairie Meadows has given more than $1 billion through taxes, grants and charitable donations to the state of Iowa. More than $500 million of that figure has remained in our community to promote economic development, agriculture, jobs and tourism.