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Record Purse for Valley Junction Futurity, Closing Weekend Includes QH Championships, Iowa Classic
Prairie Meadows will offer a record-high purse in the Grade 3 Valley Junction Futurity. The closing weekend includes the Quarter Horse Championships on Friday and the Iowa Classic on Saturday.

© Jack Coady Photography
Record Purse for Valley Junction Futurity, Closing Weekend Includes QH Championships, Iowa Classic

ALTOONA, IA–SEPTEMBER 15, 2025–Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack, & Hotel and the Iowa Quarter Horse Racing Association are proud to announce that the 2025 Valley Junction Futurity (G3), to be held on the closing weekend of the 2025 racing season, will offer a record-high purse valued at $303,500.

The Valley Junction Futurity (G3) for open two-year-olds running a distance of 350 yards is scheduled for Friday, September 26, as part of the 2025 Prairie Meadows Quarter Horse Championships that will showcase four stakes now worth a total of $488,920.

First post on Friday, September 26 is scheduled for 6:00 PM (CDT). The full rundown of Quarter Horse stakes on Friday includes the $25,000 Valley Junction Juvenile consolation race, the $50,000 Two Rivers (G3) for older horses going 400 yards, the $110,420 Altoona Derby for three-year-olds going 400 yards and the $303,500 Valley Junction Futurity (G3).

On Saturday, September 27, the racing season concludes with the Iowa Classic featuring all Iowa-registered Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse races with a first post scheduled for 4:00 PM (CDT).

The full rundown of Quarter Horse stakes on Saturday includes the $70,000 Future of Iowa (IA) for Iowa registered fillies and mares going 350 yards, the $70,000 Terrace Hill (IA) for Iowa registered three-year-olds and older going 400 yards, the $122,180 Polk County Derby (IA) for Iowa registered three-year-olds going 400 yards and the $191,200 Jim Bader Futurity (IA) for Iowa registered two-year-olds going 350 yards.

"The support for our two and three-year-old stakes program has been fantastic this year!" said Quarter Horse Racing Secretary Chad Keller. "Having two open futurities between $200,000 and $300,000 along with two open derbies over $100,000 each as a part of the program here is a credit to the owners and trainers that make our stakes program a priority in their summer racing schedule," Keller explained. "I would encourage any owners or trainers that have intentions of racing here in the Midwest circuit to take a look at our racing program including the stakes program here at Prairie Meadows for 2026 and beyond."

Visit the Racing section for the latest information at https://www.prairiemeadows.com/racing as it becomes available. To continue receiving information about the 2025 live horse racing season, visit https://www.prairiemeadows.com/signmeup    

About Prairie Meadows
Prairie Meadows began operations as a nonprofit organization in 1989 to promote economic development, jobs, agriculture, and tourism in Iowa. Prairie Meadows has given more than $2.3 billion through taxes and charitable donations to the state of Iowa. Prairie Meadows offers slot machines, table games, live and simulcast racing, sports wagering, hotel accommodations, entertainment, and more.          

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