DES MOINES, Iowa - The Drake rowing team will host the 2012 Drake Invitational Regatta Saturday afternoon on the Des Moines River. The races will begin at 12:30 p.m. near the Des Moines Botanical Center.

The University of Iowa's men team; the University of St. Thomas, men's and women's team; the University of Kansas, men's and women's team will all compete in the Regatta.

Drake last hosted a spring event on April 9, 2009 when they dominated St. Thomas in a dual on the Des Moines River.

"I am really happy with the water and weather cooperating this spring and the current is almost non-existent," Drake head coach Charlie DiSilvestro said. "The water is slow and it will allow for a fair race tomorrow."

After Saturday, the Bulldogs will have just two remaining races this season. The MAAC Championship will be next Saturday, April 28 in Princeton, N.J. and the Dad Vail Championships will be Friday, May 11 in Philadelphia, Pa.

"Saturday will be a good tune-up for conference and the dad vail races," DiSilvestro said. "We have made some race adjustments this past week but no lineup changes, so this will give us a good opportunity to get a race under our belts going into the last two races."

Drake will race in seven races on Saturday. Please see the attached schedule for times.