The Little Track on the Prairie
This weekend brings us the "Iowa Festival of Racing," a several day event of top-notch racing from Prairie Meadows, highlighted by the Iowa Derby and the Iowa Oaks on Friday night and the Cornhusker Handicap on Saturday. As a regular simulcast player at Prairie Meadows, I particularly enjoy the national spotlight being shown (at least in part) on the small track in Des Moines, Iowa.
I first played Prairie Meadows a while back on a Tuesday afternoon when no other tracks were running. Perhaps because I hit my first 3 bets ever placed there, I continued to return. The racing -- while obviously not at the level of top-tier tracks -- still was quite enjoyable. With this familiarity, I made sure to visit the track on a drive out East last summer -- arriving on a night of two minor stakes for 2-year old Iowa Breds. The facility was pleasant, the beer affordable, and its racino portion provided some nice diversions. I especially loved the Price is Right slot machine where I was able to play the Cliffhanger bonus game and win $20 (do-da-dee-dee-do-da-dee-dee-do-da-dee-dee-do!).
Prairie Meadows is a very handicappable track, and, unlike other small tracks, it is one that will bite you hard if you stray and let yourself be guided by greed -- http://www.trackchampion.com/abrams_axis.aspx. It's a track where being too clever is deadly to a bottom line -- I play my best there when I'm patient and willing to grind (albeit in the exotic pools). It is incumbent to stay with the top jockeys (Birzer, Doocy, Corbett) and stray if and only the horse figures on everything else -- at least on "normal" race days. And, it's a especially great track if you understand the concept of recent form mixed with a good helping of class and can apply it well in wheeled trifectas.
Enjoy the festival of racing!
S.A.
I first played Prairie Meadows a while back on a Tuesday afternoon when no other tracks were running. Perhaps because I hit my first 3 bets ever placed there, I continued to return. The racing -- while obviously not at the level of top-tier tracks -- still was quite enjoyable. With this familiarity, I made sure to visit the track on a drive out East last summer -- arriving on a night of two minor stakes for 2-year old Iowa Breds. The facility was pleasant, the beer affordable, and its racino portion provided some nice diversions. I especially loved the Price is Right slot machine where I was able to play the Cliffhanger bonus game and win $20 (do-da-dee-dee-do-da-dee-dee-do-da-dee-dee-do!).
Prairie Meadows is a very handicappable track, and, unlike other small tracks, it is one that will bite you hard if you stray and let yourself be guided by greed -- http://www.trackchampion.com/abrams_axis.aspx. It's a track where being too clever is deadly to a bottom line -- I play my best there when I'm patient and willing to grind (albeit in the exotic pools). It is incumbent to stay with the top jockeys (Birzer, Doocy, Corbett) and stray if and only the horse figures on everything else -- at least on "normal" race days. And, it's a especially great track if you understand the concept of recent form mixed with a good helping of class and can apply it well in wheeled trifectas.
Enjoy the festival of racing!
S.A.
posted by Seth Abrams at 10:35 AM
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