Prairie Meadows has hired two new racing officials, Eric DeCoster and Kelly McReynolds, for the upcoming 2025 racing season, the track announced Monday. DeCoster, a recent graduate from the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program & Animal Sciences, has been hired as the Thoroughbred Racing Secretary and McReynolds, who joins the team with around 40-plus years of experience in horse racing, has been hired as the Starting Gate Starter.

“Eric really impressed me with his knowledge, abilities to support his decisions, and to get the job done at a high level when he joined our team in the office last season, and with him joining our experienced crew already in place, the sky’s the limit for Eric,” said Prairie Meadows Vice President for Racing Derron Heldt.

“Kelly brings so much to the table with his experience, dedication and proven ability as a horse race starter in the industry and I feel confident that he will continue to provide a high level of integrity and fairness that we’ve had over the years with Tom Benjamin,” Heldt added.

The 2025 live racing season with 80 race days, begins with 20 days of Thoroughbred-only racing from May 9-June 14 followed by a mixed Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse schedule of 60 race days from June 15-September 27.

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This story was posted in Top News and tagged Eric DeCoster, Kelly McReynolds, live racing, Prairie Meadows, Quarter Horse, Racing Secretary, Starting Gate Starter, thoroughbred.