from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — Now in its fifth year, Back to the Track will have a new format in 2014. Instead of being centered around one weekend during the summer, each racetrack has selected its own dates as part of the 2014 Back to the Track Tour, which kicks off on June 13-14 at the Meadowlands and concludes Oct. 5 at Colonial Downs.

“In its short history, Back to the Track has become an important event on the promotional calendar for many of our tracks,” said USTA Executive Vice President and CEO Mike Tanner. “The new ‘concert tour’ format allows some new tracks that didn’t race during mid-summer in the past to participate for the first time. And for the fans, they will now have the opportunity to go more than once at different tracks if they wish.”

Back to the Track is a cooperative effort among the USTA, its member racetracks and horsemen from coast to coast that provides fans across the country with exciting days and nights of harness racing combined with fan-friendly and fun promotions.

Some of those promotions include meet and greet driver autograph sessions, behind the scenes starting gate rides, announcer booth visits and paddock tours, commemorative Back to the Track t-shirt and driver bobblehead giveaways, special family fun children’s activities and pony rides, and food and beverage discounts. At Tioga and Vernon Downs, fans can even win a trip to the Hambletonian at the Meadowlands on Saturday (Aug. 2).

Details on the schedule of events for each participating track can be found at http://backtothetrack.ustrotting.com.

Following is the tour schedule for Back to the Track in 2014:

Meadowlands–June 13-14
Pocono Downs–June 21
Vernon Downs–June 26-28
Tioga Downs–June 27-29
Northfield Park–July 3
Monticello Raceway–July 4
Hoosier Park–July 4-5
Balmoral Park–July 5
Ocean Downs–July 6
The Meadows–July 11
Saratoga Raceway–July 12
Scioto Downs–July 12
Buffalo Raceway–July 13
Running Aces–July 19
Batavia Downs–Aug. 2
Plainridge Racecourse–Aug. 23-24
Freehold Raceway–Sept. 1
Rosecroft Raceway–Sept. 13
Pompano Park–Oct. 4
Colonial Downs–Oct. 5