FARGO, ND—APRIL 17, 2014—North Dakota Horse Park officials have announced their tentative stakes and events calendar for the up-coming racing season in 2014. The “Little Track on the Prairie” will host three weekends of racing: July 19 and 20, July 26 and 27, and August 2 and 3 with post times at 1 p.m. daily.

Featured in the preliminary stakes lineup is a return of the $25,000-est. Northern Plains Futurity. This dash to the wire is likely to be the most lucrative race of the three weekend meet and it returns to Fargo for the first time since 2009 when Little Love Affair took the top prize for owner/trainer Jim Fleming.

“More race days is the reason for the return of the race,” NDQHRA President Leon Glasser said. “Before Canterbury received money this race ranked up there but now it is behind two big races they have.”

The Futurity, whose purse in generated through a stallion auction and subsequent entry payments, will likely see its trials run on opening weekend with the finals on the meets closing weekend.

Other races include both an AQHA Bonus Challenge and AQHA Maiden Challenge, both presented by Bank of America.

The track will also host Thoroughbred racing. Along with great racing, the track also has a lineup of events and activities including Food Truck Vendors, Horses and Heroes Day, Mascot and Goldfish Races, and so much more.

“With the racing lineup we have, along with our great events, sponsorship partners, and of course our great fans, this year has the making for one of our best meets yet,” General Manager Mike Schmitz said. “We want Fargo to be the destination point for all racing fans in the region and when they arrive, we’ll deliver them a great product.”

For more information, contact northdakotahorsepark@hotmail.com.

AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHARacing on Twitter, watch the AQHA Racing Newscast and visit www.aqharacing.com.