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Monday, August 31, 2009

Lessons from Iowa

The management at Prairie Meadows turned down the latest proposal from the various horsemen groups to modify the proposed racing calendar for 2010 which would have saved the standardbred meet at Iowa's one parimutuel track for 2010 as well improve the other breed's race meets . There is still a chance that Prairie Meadows will be ordered to stage a harness meet next year by state regulators if management is not able to come to an agreement with the horsemen.

Why is the Prairie Meadows story important? It is because the three racing breeds in Iowa, quarterhorse, standardbred, and thoroughbred worked together to come up with an alternative racing proposal to meet the common good instead of just worrying about themselves. Most of the time breed associations only work together on issues such as VLTs but otherwise, they are each busy trying to maximize their presence in a particular state at the expense of the other breed(s) including trying to keep other breeds out of the track(s) they race at.

While the efforts of the Iowa horsemen may not have succeeded this year, they may be successful next year. Racing is in trouble. If each breed works together for the common good, on scheduling and other issues of concern besides VLTs everyone will prosper. Otherwise, continue worrying only about your own breed and when you need help, no one will be there to support you.

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