![\"\"](\"https:\/\/visitaltoona.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/June2021_AltoonaDestination_Images_Thoroghbred_1-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDid you know\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Horses have the largest eyes of any land mammal. \u2022 Jockeys typically weigh between 108 and 118 pounds. Prairie Meadows is where all the fun is this summer! Spend a night at the track, watch the horses, and grab a bite to eat. Horse races are FREE, family friendly, and held each week, Friday-Monday, now-September 25th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 A foal can run within hours of being born.
\u2022 Horses can sleep both lying down and standing up.
\u2022 Because a horse\u2019s eyes are located on the side of their head, their line of sight is nearly 360 degrees.
\u2022 Gallop speed for a horse is nearly 27 miles per hour.
\u2022 A horse\u2019s teeth take up more space in their head than their brain.
\u2022 Horses can see better at night than humans.
\u2022 A horse\u2019s heart weighs nearly 10 pounds.
\u2022 Horses have a sweet tooth. They prefer sweet flavors and will usually reject anything that is sour or bitter.
\u2022 Horses drink up to 25 gallons of water daily.
\u2022 When measuring a horse, you use \u2018hands\u2019. A hand is a unit of 4 inches \u2013 the approximate width of a human hand. Height is determined by measuring from the ground to the highest point of the horse\u2019s withers. The wither is the ridge between the horse\u2019s shoulder blades.
\u2022 The average racehorse weighs 1,000 pounds.
\u2022 Quarter Horses can reach speeds up to 55 miles per hour or more during a sprint.
\u2022 Thoroughbreds are considered a middle-distance runner and typically attain a speed of 40 miles per hour.
\u2022 All racehorses share the same \u201cofficial\u201d birth date of January 1st.
\u2022 Horses can rotate each of their ears 180 degrees, giving them a full 360-degree range of hearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/visitaltoona.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/June2021_AltoonaDestination_Images_Thoroghbred_2-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nNow that you know a little bit more about horses, here are some fun facts about the track and jockeys:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Before each race, jockeys weigh in with their kit. Each horse in a race must carry a specific amount of weight to equalize the competition. Jockeys may need to carry extra weight when racing if they\u2019re under the weight requirements.
\u2022 Horse races are measured in furlongs which is 1\/8 of a mile or 220 yards
\u2022 The track has different colored poles along the inside rail. Poles are placed 1\/16th of a mile apart and each color represents a different length. Black poles are 1\/16th of a mile, green is 1\/8th, and red is 1\/4 of a mile.
\u2022 Prairie Meadows\u2019 track is a one-mile oval composed of a 21-inch limestone base and 5.5 inches of sand and organic cushion on top.
\u2022 When the barn at Prairie Meadows is at capacity, there are more than 1,400 horses in the stalls.
\u2022 The largest Thoroughbred race purses of the season are awarded during Prairie Meadows\u2019 Festival of Racing on July 2nd & 3rd. Purses total more than $1,000,000.
\u2022 The most lucrative Quarter Horse purses of the season are during the Quarter Horse Championships on September 24th and the Iowa Classic on September 25th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n