by John Pawlak, the U.S. Trotting Association

Columbus, OH — The U.S. Trotting Association has announced that the 2012 edition of “Back to the Track” will take place on the weekend of July 13 through 15.

Back to the Track is a cooperative effort among the USTA, its member racetracks and horsemen from coast to coast. In its first two years, the promotion has energized the racing industry and welcomed substantial crowds who are thus given the opportunity to experience racing on a day or night at their local track as they remembered it years ago — framed in an exciting atmosphere.

The centerpiece of Back to the Track weekend will be Saturday, July 14. On that date, some of the sport’s richest and most important events, headlined by the $800,000 (est.) Meadowlands Pace, will be renewed, and nearly $4 million in purses will be won by top horses at tracks across America, making it one of the richest single days in recent harness racing history.

“This year’s Back To The Track weekend places the promotion in the heart of the summer racing season,” USTA Executive Vice President and CEO Mike Tanner said, “and we’re hoping that we’ll be able to attract fans, both present and perhaps lapsed, out to the tracks for a weekend of excitement and memories. Our first two editions of Back To The Track have given us some great ideas on what to build upon, and I’ve been impressed by how eager the tracks and horsemen are for this year’s event.

“In the coming weeks we will begin the process of releasing details about what tracks and horsemen will be doing to make it an attractive weekend for fans to return to see live racing,” Tanner added.

Racing will not be the only enticement for fans to either return to the track or make their first visit: At their own option, each track will offer a variety of admission and concession specials, give “behind the scenes tours,” offer special wagers or perhaps have live demonstrations featuring Standardbred horses.

The Back to the Track website — www.BackToTheTrack.com — has received its first update for 2012. Between now and the July 13-15 weekend, the site will be the one place where complete information about the weekend and the various features to be offered by racetracks will be found.

It will certainly benefit fans to go “back to that site” often before planning to go “Back to the Track” on July 13-15, 2012.