Pat Pope named Prairie Meadows racing secretary

ALTOONA, Iowa - Pat Pope, the current racing secretary at Oaklawn Park, will return to Prairie Meadows as racing secretary for the 2014 Thoroughbred meet, according to Prairie Meadows officials.

Pope, who has served in a similar capacity at Delaware Park since 2009, last worked at Prairie Meadows in 2008 as an associate steward. He had previously served as the Prairie Meadows racing secretary from 1997 to 2002.

Pope’s new position at Prairie Meadows will not in any way affect his responsibilities at Oaklawn but the Prairie Meadows meet does conflict with Delaware Park’s racing dates.

Pope, whose first job as a racing secretary came in 1985 at Louisiana Downs, was named Prairie Meadows racing secretary by director of racing Derron Heldt. Pope succeeds Chad Keller who will remain at the track as assistant racing secretary and continue as Quarter Horse racing secretary.

The Prairie Meadows meet runs from April 18 to Aug. 9. Racing will be held Thursday to Saturday evenings and on Sunday afternoons. The track’s Quarter Horse meet, which concludes with the Bank of America Challenge Championships, will run from Aug. 16 through Oct. 18.