Prairie Meadows hosts Stars & Stripes July 3rd Event
$675,000+ Up for Grabs in Quarter Horse Stakes Races
ALTOONA – Prairie Meadows will feature the annual Stars and Stripes event on Friday, July 3, 2026. The action-packed day will feature free, family- friendly entertainment with a spectacular fireworks display, at dusk.
The Independence Day weekend celebration on July 3rd will include trackside entertainment and fun for the entire family. Guests can expect to be entertained with live horse racing, games, fun photo ops, live music, a wide variety of food and beverage options, and more!
● LIVE RACING: 4:00 p.m. post time
● LIVE MUSIC: 4:30 - 9:30 p.m. • Track Apron Stage • Punching Pandas
● TRACKSIDE ENTERTAINMENT: Beginning at 3:00 p.m.
● FOOD, DRINKS & TREATS: Satisfy your cravings with a wide variety of options. Enjoy burgers, hot dogs, walking tacos, chicken tenders, brat patties, Icee Floats, frozen lemonade, nachos, Dippin’ Dots, Bavarian pretzels, and more!
● FIREWORKS: Dusk
Live horse racing throughout the holiday weekend will also feature a total of six Quarter Horse stakes races worth an estimated total value of $675,150 up for grabs.
On Friday, July 3 top older horses will battle it out in the Grade III $50,000 Keokuk Stakes over 350 yards, highlighted by last years’ PRM Championship Challenge winner and 3rd place finisher in the 2025 Grade I Challenge Championship at Albuquerque, Hooked N Gone as the 5-2 morning line favorite, 2026 Grade I Juno’s Request winner at Remington Park Catchn Southern Rays at 7-2 morning line odds, last years’ Grade III Two Rivers Stakes winner, Cardiac Cowboy at 9-2 morning line odds, and a couple top Iowa bred runners in AB Boogie and AJS Favorite IA make this year’s Keokuk Stakes fully loaded with top tier talent all-around.
Also on Friday, the ten fastest Iowa bred 2-year-olds that qualified via time trials back on June 14 will contest 330 yards in the $99,875 Hawkeye Futurity. Fastest qualifier is Jess A Lil Whiskey for trainer Tony Dean Jones installed as the second choice morning line odds of 5-2. Second fastest qualifier is the morning line favorite, TS Cyber Flash for trainer Fernando Manriquez.
Saturday, July 4 will feature the richest of the six Quarter Horse stakes this weekend with the $263,560 Prairie Meadows Gold Futurity highlighted by fastest qualifier and morning line favorite at 8-5 odds, Apollitikal Dreamer from the barn of top conditioner Jason Olmstead. A slew of multiple winners already this season will challenge the morning line favorite so it’s anybody’s race in the field of ten qualifiers.
Sunday, July 5 is highlighted by 2026 Grade II Heritage Place Oaks at Remington Park winner Chew Bac Cah as the solid even money morning line favorite in this year’s $68,025 Cyclone Derby for Iowa bred three-year-olds going 350 yards. The seven-time winner of nearly $300,000 in earnings hails from our current leading Quarter Horse trainer Jason Olmstead’s barn and is looking for her third consecutive win this season.
The stakes bonanza concludes on Monday, July 6 with the $163,690 Prairie Meadows Gold Derby for open three-year-olds going 350 yards. The wide open affair has several contenders including fastest qualifier Jess Want To Know, winner of last years’ Valley Junction Juvenile here at Prairie Meadows, Atsi Monday coming in on a two-win streak and finished second in last years’ Valley Junction Futurity final here at Prairie Meadows and another contender having won two straight races this year in Starlight Cartel DF for trainer Stacy Hill.
For complete information on the 2026 Stars & Stripes July 3rd Weekend, please visit the website.
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