DES MOINES, Iowa — The biggest race of Lolo Jones' life will likely be the 100-meter hurdles she'll compete in next month at the Beijing Olympics.

Then she may compete in her strangest run: a race against a horse in her home state of Iowa.

Jones apparently came up with the idea of going up against a racehorse at Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino near Des Moines. She and racetrack officials were already discussing an autograph signing when the idea popped up, her attorney David Adelman said.

"I think she mentioned this could be kind of fun, something of interest, probably not thinking anything would come of it," Adelman said on Wednesday. "People have been talking about it, so we figured we'd explore the option further."

Jones wouldn't be the first star athlete to run against an equine competitor. Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Johnson raced a horse last year at River Downs, and track and field legend Jesse Owens raced horses and dogs after winning four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics.

None of the details of a Jones vs. racehorse event have been finalized, and Adelman said they wouldn't be until after the Olympics.

"Right now her focus, her priorities, are all on the Olympics, the U.S. Olympics team and her 100-meter hurdle race," he said.

Jones wasn't available for comment.

So far, the Des Moines native has been paid $4,000 by the racetrack to help send her family to Beijing. Adelman said more money could come if the horse race is finalized.

"We're kind of in the initial stages of talks right now, making sure that she's racing on the safest surface possible," he said.

A telephone message left for a spokeswoman with Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Altoona wasn't immediately returned.

The distance of the possible race hasn't been discussed, but it would likely be a sprint against a thoroughbred, which are bred for long-distance running. Adelman said it would be "a race where Lolo would be competitive and possibly win against the horse."

Deb Moss, a Des Moines breeder of thoroughbreds, said it's a great promotional idea.

"I think everybody is interested," Moss said. "Let's see how fast she really is."

The distance would likely have to be about 100 yards to 220 yards to give Jones an edge, because "a human can get out of the gate a lot faster than a horse can," Moss said.

The fastest 100-yard dash recorded by a human is about 9 seconds. According to the Prairie Meadows Web site, the record for a 100-yard race there is 6.21 seconds set in 2002 by a quarter horse. The shortest thoroughbred races listed were two furlongs, or about a quarter mile.

Adelman said Jones enjoys doing public appearances in Iowa and thought racing a horse could be fun for a hometown crowd.

"She has such an affinity for Des Moines, central Iowa, and considers this her home and obviously wants to be back here in some capacity," he said.