by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park Racing and Casino

Anderson, IN — Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, now in its 21st season of live harness racing, announced today the launch of a comprehensive social media campaign to raise awareness and engagement around this year’s live racing season that is set to begin on Friday (March 28).

The campaign will utilize a range of leading social media sites and technologies to generate visibility and buzz for a variety of events and purposes at the track. With the installation of new software, Hoosier Park will have the capability to use and display tweets, posts, and pictures in real time throughout the live broadcast like never seen before in harness racing. The campaign is expected to expand over time, exploring the application of new, innovative technologies and will improve the experience of the harness racing product to racing fans.

“Social media is the way the world communicates now,” Hoosier Park’s Vice President and General Manger of Racing Rick Moore noted. “Whether it is Barack Obama, Lebron James, or even the Pope, people from all walks of life are embracing the use of social media. If horse racing doesn’t ride this wave of social media, we will soon be asking ourselves what just blew by us.”

Utilizing the hashtag #PlayHP, Hoosier Park has asked drivers and trainers to use this social media campaign as a way to reach the serious and casual racing fan with information on their horses.

Racing fans will have the ability to ask questions, post comments and participate in promotions using social media.

Hoosier Park broke ground with social media last season, driving substantial interest and awareness using multiple social media platforms but is hoping to double their efforts in 2014.

With the recent addition of this social media software, in conjunction with the already installed Trakus software, racing fans will have the ability to watch and engage in live harness racing at Hoosier Park like never before.

Racing fans and participants are encouraged to follow Hoosier Park on Facebook and Twitter for up-to-date information and promotions for the live harness racing meet.

Live racing at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino will follow a Friday/Saturday schedule the opening week, a Thursday, Friday, Saturday schedule the second week and then resume a Tuesday through Saturday schedule throughout the remainder of the meet. With a new, daily post time of 5:15 p.m. each night, the live racing season will be conducted through Nov. 15.