Prairie Meadows Backside Community Shines with Award Winners

December 10– Altoona, IA. Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack, & Hotel is proud to recognize two individuals from our local racing scene that were awarded national honors last month.

Carmen McShane from Maxwell, Iowa won the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award (TIEA) Leadership in Racing. McShane has been in the racing industry for more than three decades and currently serves as assistant trainer for D/M Racing, which is run by her husband and Iowa HBPA President Dave McShane. She has also been a jockey, exercise rider, outrider, and farm worker. The Leadership in Racing Award goes to an individual in a Thoroughbred-racing stable, in a managerial or supervisory role with more than two employees, who displays exceptional leadership qualities – particularly in terms of motivating, mentoring, and supporting colleagues in the workplace. “She is the first one to the barn and the last one to leave,” said daughter, Michelle McShane. “If there were more hours in the day, I believe she’d spend those at the barn as well.”

Victoria Dorrian from Altoona, Iowa won the Race Track Chaplaincy of America (RTCA) White Horse Award for exhibiting courage, outstanding achievement, and noble qualities in rescuing a loose horse on Interstate 80 in September 2019. “Victoria showed poise and dedication, like all true horsemen, in such a situation by being calm and ready to act, even in a dangerous situation,” said Jon Moss, Iowa Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association Executive Director. “The Iowa HBPA who nominated Victoria for the award are immensely proud of her actions and how it demonstrated that horsemen are dedicated to not only their own, but to everyone’s horses at the track.”

Derron Heldt, Vice President Racing at Prairie Meadows acknowledged, “Carmen and Victoria are two of the hardest working women in the Iowa racing industry. It’s great to see their accomplishments honored nationally.” Prairie Meadows congratulates Carmen McShane and Victoria Dorrian on their award recognition and representing the local Prairie Meadows racing community in the highest standards.   

To receive information about our 2021 live racing season, visit https://www.prairiemeadows.com/racing/racing-info

About Prairie Meadows

Prairie Meadows began operations as a nonprofit organization in 1989 with the goal of promoting economic development, jobs, agriculture, and tourism in the state of Iowa. Through taxes, grants, and charitable donations, Prairie Meadows has given more than $1.9 billion to the state of Iowa, Polk County, City of Altoona, City of Des Moines, and Polk County Schools, and numerous other local and state charities.  Prairie Meadows offers slot machines, table games, live and simulcast racing, sports wagering, hotel accommodations, entertainment, and more.

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