Prairie Meadows

about this track

On July 19, 1984, Prairie Meadows was granted a license from Iowa State Racing Commission to operate a horse racing facility in Altoona, and the inaugural day of racing was March 1, 1989.

Financial difficulty forced the track to file for bankruptcy in 1991 and to close for racing in 1992. The following year, Prairie Meadows became the property of Polk County, which today leases the facility to the not-for-profit Racing Association of Central Iowa.

On July 19, 1984, Prairie Meadows was granted a license from Iowa State Racing Commission to operate a horse racing facility in Altoona, and the inaugural day of racing was March 1, 1989.

Financial difficulty forced the track to file for bankruptcy in 1991 and to close for racing in 1992. The following year, Prairie Meadows became the property of Polk County, which today leases the facility to the not-for-profit Racing Association of Central Iowa.

On May 17, 1994, Polk County voters approved a referendum allowing the addition of slot machines at Prairie Meadows, and the opening day of the new slot machine casino was April 1, 1995.

In January 2001, Prairie Meadows held a grand reopening of their new $26 million casino expansion project.

And on July 15, 2004, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission granted Prairie Meadows permission to add table games at the facility.