PRAIRIE MEADOWS RACECOURSE
The Prairie Meadows racecourse can be found in the town of Altoona in the state of Iowa. Negotiations to build a track began in 1984, but it was to take 5 years before the inuagural meeting on 1st March 1989. Success was short lived and the track became bankrupt with racing ceasing in 1992.
	Money from a casino and slots allowed racing to return in 1994 and it went from strength to strength.
Its principal race is the Iowa Derby which is run over 8 and a half furlongs, first being contested in 1999 when the Willie Martinez ridden Grits'n Hard Toast was successful. Most recently in 2009 Duke of Mischief was the latest Derby winner.
	Other feature races at the track are the Iowa Oaks for fillies and the Priaire Meadows Breeders Cup Handicap.
If you have badges, racecards, pictures of the racecourse or further details about the course, including your memories, then email johnslusar@fsmail.net