The 67-day Thoroughbred season will open Thursday, April 26, 2018. A typical race week will feature races Thursday through Sunday. Special racing days next season are May 28 (Memorial Day), June 13, July 3 (fireworks display to follow), and August 8. The season will end with the Iowa Classic on Saturday, August 11 with the post time of 4 p.m.

The 26-day Quarter Horse season will start Saturday, August 18 and conclude on Saturday, October 13. The Quarter Horses race Friday through Sunday with the exception of closing weekend, which will run Thursday through Saturday. Prairie Meadows will close out the 2018 racing season with the Iowa Quarter Horse Championships, with the post time of 4 p.m..

Post times will remain the same as the 2017 season, with Thursday and Friday races beginning at 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday starting at 1 p.m. Triple Crown Saturdays (May 5, May 19, and June 9) will have a post time of 4 p.m.; Monday, Memorial Day will begin at 1 p.m.; Wednesday, June 13 and August 8 will have a 6 p.m. post times; Thursday, October 11 will have a 6 p.m. post time