What is the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap?
The Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap is a Grade III Thoroughbred race held annually at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa. Contested at 1⅛ miles on the dirt for horses aged three and older, it is the signature event of Prairie Meadows and one of the most historic handicap races in the Midwest. Inaugurated in 1966 at the now-closed Ak-Sar-Ben Racetrack in Omaha, Nebraska, the race moved to Prairie Meadows following Ak-Sar-Ben's closure in 1995. Julie Krone made history in 1988 by becoming the first female jockey to win the Cornhusker Handicap aboard Palace March. Brad Cox holds the modern record for most training wins with three. Notable recent winners include Knicks Go, who used his 2021 Cornhusker triumph as a springboard to American Horse of the Year honors that same season.
When is the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap in 2026?
The 2026 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap is scheduled for late June at Prairie Meadows. Contested at 1⅛ miles on the dirt with a purse of $178,000, the race is the marquee event of the Iowa racing calendar and draws top older dirt horses targeting the summer championship circuit.
Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap History & Notable Winners
Cornishman gave trainer Dan McFarlane a 2025 victory in 1:50.10 under Glenn Corbett. Red Route One gave trainer Steve Asmussen his third Cornhusker title in 2024 under Cristian Torres in 1:49.62 for Winchell Thoroughbreds. Giant Game gave trainer Dale Romans a 2023 win in 1:49.86 under Martin Garcia for West Point Thoroughbreds and Albaugh Family Stables. Officiating gave trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and jockey Javier Castellano a 2022 score in 1:50.04. Knicks Go delivered the most celebrated recent Cornhusker performance in 2021, winning in 1:47.33 under Joel Rosario for trainer Brad Cox and the Korea Racing Authority, en route to being named American Horse of the Year.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Cornishman | Glenn W. Corbett | 1:50.10 |
| 2024 | Red Route One | Cristian A. Torres | 1:49.62 |
| 2023 | Giant Game | Martin Garcia | 1:49.86 |
| 2022 | Officiating | Javier Castellano | 1:50.04 |
| 2021 | Knicks Go | Joel Rosario | 1:47.33 |
The Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap is the premier dirt race in Iowa and one of the most historic handicap events in the Midwest each June.
