Prairie and trainer reach stall deal

ALTOONA, Iowa - Prairie Meadows management and trainer Ray Stifano on Thursday reached an agreement vacating a trespass order the track had issued against Stifano on Tuesday.

Stifano had refused to remove horses from Prairie Meadows after being cut from 36 stalls during the Thoroughbred meeting that concluded on July 6, to 16 at the current mixed meeting. In addition to the trespass order, Stifano had been given until Friday morning to have all of his horses off of the grounds.

Under the agreement, Stifano will retain 16 stalls and has until Sunday morning to remove the additional horses.

"The parties involved had good- faith discussions, and we came to an agreement which is fair to everyone involved," said Bob Farinella, general manager of Prairie Meadows. "This was keeping several other horseman from getting the stalls they had been allotted. Now that problem will be resolved," Farinella said.