Prairie Meadows track report

Prairie Meadows has reached an agreement with the Iowa Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association over the purse structure and dates for 2006.

Under the agreement, which must by approved by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, Prairie Meadows will conduct 90 days of live racing in 2006. A 45-day Thoroughbred meeting beginning in April would be followed by a 45-day mixed meeting from July to mid-September.

This year, the track conducted a 45-day Thoroughbred meeting and is in the middle of a 48-day mixed meeting that ends Sept. 24. Despite the slight reduction in racing dates, there will be an increase in the number of Thoroughbred races run here next year as the track will run 10 races per card during the Thoroughbred meeting, up from nine this year.

Total purses for Thoroughbreds are expected to be $14.3 million in 2006, based on revenue projections for the remainder of the year at Prairie Meadows. That figure is up approximately $1 million from 2005.