Home / Sports / Iowa Horse Racing Festival: Stars Vie for Glory
Iowa Horse Racing Festival: Stars Vie for Glory
10 Jul
Summary
- Festival features eight stakes races over two days.
- Grade 3 Cornhusker Handicap headlines Saturday's events.
- Premier trainers and jockeys to compete in premier races.
The 2026 Iowa Festival of Racing will take place on Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11 at Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Altoona, Iowa. This premier event features a total of eight stakes races spread across the two days. The highlight is the Grade 3 $300,000-guaranteed Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap, scheduled for Saturday, July 11.
Notable figures in Thoroughbred racing, including trainers Bob Baffert, Brad Cox, and Steve Asmussen, along with jockeys Mike Smith and Luis Saez, are expected to participate. Friday's card includes the Iowa Oaks (Listed), Iowa Distaff (Black Type), Prairie Gold Lassie (Black Type), and The Saylorville (Black Type), offering substantial prize money and compelling matchups.
Saturday's racing program will also feature the Iowa Derby (Listed), the Iowa Sprint (Black Type), and the Prairie Gold Juvenile (Black Type). Horses like Desert Gate, trained by Bob Baffert, and Nakatomi, with over $2 million in earnings, are among the expected contenders for these lucrative races. Post times for both days are set for 6:00 PM CT.
