| Class: | Grade III |
| Horse Race: | Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap |
| Location: | Prairie Meadows Altoona, Iowa, United States |
| Inaugurated: | 1966 |
| Race Type: | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Distance: | miles (9 furlongs) |
| Surface: | Dirt |
| Track: | left-handed |
| Qualification: | Three-year-olds and up |
| Weight: | Handicap |
| Purse: | $300,000 |
The Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap is an American Grade III thoroughbred horse race held annually at the end of June at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa. The race is open to horses age three years and older and currently offers a purse of $300,000. Raced at a distance of 1
miles on dirt, from 1966 through 1973 it was run at 1 miles.[1]Inaugurated in 1966, the Cornhusker Handicap was originally run at the Ak-Sar-Ben Racetrack in Omaha, Nebraska which closed in 1995. The first edition was won by Royal Gunner who was ridden by future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Bill Hartack.
Julie Krone was the first female jockey to compete in the Cornhusker Handicap and the first female jockey to win it when she captured the 1988 edition aboard Palace March.
The Cornhusker Handicap purse was reduced to $100,00 in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic along with the Iowa Derby and Iowa Oaks purses.[2]
Time record: (at current distance of miles)
Most wins:
Most wins by a Jockey:
Most wins by a Trainer:
Most wins by an Owner:
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Win$ | Gr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Giant Game | 4 | Martin Garcia | Dale L. Romans | West Point Thoroughbreds & Albaugh Family Stables | 1 | 1:49.86 | $178,800 | G3 |
| 2022 | Officiating | 4 | Javier Castellano | Saffie A. Joseph Jr. | Vegso Racing Stable | 1 | 1:50.04 | $180,000 | G3 |
| 2021 | Knicks Go | 4 | Joel Rosario | Brad H. Cox | 1 | 1:47.33 | $180,000 | G3 | |
| 2020 | Night Ops | 4 | Martin Garcia | Brad H. Cox | Steve Landers Racing LLC | 1 | 1:48.30 | $59,100 | G3 |
| 2019 | Sir Anthony | 4 | Pedro Cotto Jr. | Anthony T. Mitchell | Richard Otto Stables Inc. | 1 | 1:48.98 | $178,800 | G3 |
| 2018 | Remembering Rita | 4 | Alex Birzer | Doug L. Anderson | Jeral Keith Adams | 1 | 1:49.36 | $179,400 | G3 |
| 2017 | Iron Fist | 5 | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Steve Asmussen | Whispering Oaks Farm | 1 | 1:47.36 | $179,400 | G3 |
| 2016 | Smack Smack | 5 | Shane Laviolette | Don Von Hemel | Dream Walkin Farms | 1 | 1:50.28 | $179,100 | G3 |
| 2015 | Golden Lad | 5 | Javier Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher | E. Paul Robsham Stables | 1 | 1:49.86 | $180,000 | G3 |
| 2014 | Carve | 4 | Jesús Castañón | Brad H. Cox | Michael Langford | 1 | 1:50.56 | $180,000 | G3 |
| 2013 | Prayer for Relief | 5 | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Steven Asmussen | Zayat Stables | 1 | 1:49.96 | $180,000 | G3 |
| 2012 | Fort Larned | 4 | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Ian Wilkes | Janis R. Whitham | 1 | 1:47.42 | $180,000 | G3 |
| 2011 | Headache | 5 | Miguel Mena | Mike Maker | Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey | 1 | 1:47.83 | $180,000 | G3 |
| 2010 | Shadowbdancing | 5 | Eusebio Razo Jr. | Terrel Gore | RNB Racing LLC (Robert E. & Nancy J. Bartels) | 1 | 1:48.24 | $180,000 | G3 |
| 2009 | Jonesboro | 7 | Cliff Berry | Randy L. Morse | Michael Langford | 1 | 1:48.01 | $180,000 | G2 |
| 2008 | Wayzata Bay | 6 | Israel Ocampo | Judi Hicklin | World Thoroughbreds Racing Inc. | 1 | 1:48.47 | $180,000 | G2 |
| 2007 | Dry Martini | 4 | Elvis Trujillo | Barclay Tagg | Carol & George Nyren | 1 | 1:48.41 | $180,000 | G2 |
| 2006 | Siphon City | 4 | Elvis Trujillo | Daniel C. Hurtak | Ray J. Larkin | 1 | 1:47.76 | $180,000 | G2 |
| 2005 | Lord of the Game | 4 | Eusebio Razo Jr. | Tommy Tomillo | 2 Blondes, Inc. | 1 | 1:49.94 | $180,000 | G2 |
| 2004 | Roses in May | 4 | Mark Guidry | Dale L. Romans | Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey | 1 | 1:46.63 | $180,000 | G3 |
| 2003 | Tenpins | 5 | Robby Albarado | Donald R. Winfree | Joseph V. Vitello | 1 | 1:48.39 | $210,000 | G3 |
| 2002 | Mr John | 4 | Mark Guidry | Elliott Walden | Thomas F. Van Meter Jr. | 1 | 1:47.97 | $240,000 | G3 |
| 2001 | Euchre | 5 | Garrett Gomez | Robert J. Frankel | Stronach Stables | 1 | 1:47.72 | $180,000 | G3 |
| 2000 | Sir Bear | 7 | Eibar Coa | Ralph Ziadie | Barbara Smollin | 1 | 1:48.49 | $180,000 | G3 |
| 1999 | Nite Dreamer | 4 | Robby Albarado | Niall O'Callaghan | Henry E. Pabst | 1 | 1:48.85 | $210,000 | G3 |
| 1998 | Beboppin Baby | 5 | Jesse Campbell | Joe Kasperski Jr. | Lawrence Karp | 1 | 1:46.62 | $180,000 | G3 |
| 1997 | Semoran | 4 | David Flores | Bob Baffert | Donald R. Dizney | 1 | 1:48.47 | $120,000 | G3 |
| 1996 | align=center colspan=9 | Race not held | |||||||
| 1995 | Powerful Punch | 6 | Curt Bourque | Harvey L. Vanier | Russell L. Reineman | 1 | 1:49.80 | $90,000 | G3 |
| 1994 | Zeeruler | 6 | Robert N. Lester | Donnie K. Von Hemel | John A. Franks | 1 | 1:50.20 | $75,000 | G3 |
| 1993 | Link | 5 | Ronald Ardoin | Tom Amoss | Stewart Madison | 1 | 1:50.40 | $75,000 | G3 |
| 1992 | Irish Swap | 5 | Bruce Poyadou | Joseph E. Broussard | Randall Hendricks | 1 | 1:47.80 | $75,000 | G3 |
| 1991 | Black Tie Affair | 5 | Pat Day | Ernie T. Poulos | Jeff Sullivan | 1 | 1:48.60 | $75,000 | G3 |
| 1990 | Dispersal | 4 | Jorge Velásquez | Bud Delp | Tom Meyerhoff | 1 | 1:50.00 | $90,000 | G3 |
| 1989 | Blue Buckaroo | 6 | Shane Sellers | Harvey L. Vanier | Russell L. Reineman | 1 | 1:49.40 | $120,000 | G2 |
| 1988 | Palace March | 4 | Julie Krone | William I. Mott | Bertram R. Firestone | 1 | 1:49.00 | $120,000 | G2 |
| 1987 | Bolshoi Boy | 4 | Chris Antley | Howard M. Tesher | John Greathouse Jr. & Arthur Belford | 1 | 1:48.40 | $120,000 | G2 |
| 1986 | Gourami | 4 | Timothy Doocy | Lin A. Wheeler | Vistas Stables (Berry Gordy) | 1 | 1:49.40 | $150,000 | G2 |
| 1985 | Gate Dancer | 4 | Chris McCarron | Jack Van Berg | Kenneth Opstein | 1 | 1:48.60 | $100,800 | G2 |
| 1984 | Timeless Native | 4 | Dale Brumfield | Bud Delp | Hawksworth Farm (Harry Meyerhoff) | 1 | 1:49.40 | $90,000 | G2 |
| 1983 | Win Stat | 6 | David Pettinger | Donnie K. Von Hemel | Russell E. Caston JR. & Norman Ruback | 1 | 1:53.20 | $92,978 | G2 |
| 1982 | Recusant | 4 | Ronald J. Hirdes Jr. | Michael B. Ball | Donamire Farm (Donald & Mira Ball) | 1 | 1:51.60 | $92,895 | G2 |
| 1981 | Summer Advocate | 4 | Kenneth Jones | Michael B. Ball | W. L. Floyd | 1 | 1:48.20 | $93,142 | G2 |
| 1980 | Hold Your Tricks | 5 | David Pettinger | J. Bert Sonnier | Mabar Farm (Harry Katz) | 1 | 1:49.20 | $88,687 | G2 |
| 1979 | Star de Naskra | 4 | Jeffrey Fell | Richard D. Ferris | Carlyle J. Lancaster | 1 | 1:48.40 | $90,613 | G2 |
| 1978 | True Statement | 4 | Bryan Fann | John J. Weipert | Elmendorf Farm (Maxwell Gluck) | 1 | 1:48.20 | $60,913 | G2 |
| 1977 | Private Thoughts | 4 | Ronnie R. Perez | Gregory E. Sanders | Sandera Farm | 1 | 1:48.00 | $62,783 | G3 |
| 1976 | Dragset | 5 | Sam Maple | Glenn L. Hild | James Manning | 1 | 1:49.00 | $60,500 | G3 |
| 1975 | Stonewalk | 4 | Ron Turcotte | Daniel J. Lopez | Timberland Stable | 1 | 1:48.40 | $59,290 | G3 |
| 1974 | Blazing Gypsey | 5 | Salistino Burgos | Charles Karlin | High Country Stable | 1 | 1:49.60 | $57,963 | G3 |
| 1973 | Joey Bob | 5 | Leroy Moyers | Jack Van Berg | M. H. Van Berg Stables & Joe Adcock | 1 | 1:42.80 | $30,828 | G3 |
| 1972 | Joey Bob | 4 | Leroy Moyers | Jack Van Berg | M. H. Van Berg Stables & Joe Adcock | 1 | 1:42.60 | $31,213 | |
| 1971 | Action Getter | 4 | Kenneth Jones | Bob G. Dunham | E. V. Benjamin & J. Merrick Jones Jr. | 1 | 1:44.00 | $31,034 | |
| 1970 | Blazing Silk | 6 | Larry J. Durousseau | Albert Vizcaya | Mrs. Raymond Bauer | 1 | 1:42.60 | $31,433 | |
| 1969 | Vale of Tears | 6 | Larry J. Durousseau | Albert Vizcaya | Mrs. Raymond Bauer | 1 | 1:42.20 | $30,828 | |
| 1968-1 | Ninfalo | 5 | Calvin Stone | Eugene Constantin Jr. | 1 | 1:41.80 | $24,764 | ||
| 1968-2 | Vale of Tears | 5 | Larry J. Durousseau | Albert Vizcaya | Mrs. Raymond Bauer | 1 | 1:41.20 | $24,764 | |
| 1967 | Single Needle | 4 | Larry J. Durousseau | Walter R. Greenman | Richard D. & C. M. Baren | 1 | 1:46.80 | $30,772 | |
| 1966 | Royal Gunner | 4 | Bill Hartack | Loyd Gentry Jr. | Mike Ford | 1 | 1:43.00 | $31,075 |