by Moira Fanning, publicity director, The Hambletonian Society

Cranbury, NJ — A special meeting of the Hambletonian Society board entitled “Who Will Be the Harness Racing Customer in 2025?” takes place Thursday, July 31, at The Meadowlands Sheraton from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

A hard look at how today’s generation regards harness racing is the subject of the first panel, “Why Aren’t You Our Customer?” It is followed by a look at who the existing harness racing customer is and how they are being serviced. This panel includes a range of professional gamblers and moderate bettors.

Some of the keenest minds in harness racing will address what racetracks and racinos are doing currently to attract a new audience and retain the existing audience. Speakers include Kelly Spencer of Grand River Raceway, Paul Lawson of Woodbine Entertainment and Amy Silver and Rachel Ryan of the Meadowlands.

Gil Winston, Dean Towers, Mark Hunter and Chris Hayes will submit several strategies they believe can work to the advantage of racing. All are professionals in technology, marketing or development, as well as knowledgeable about many facets of harness racing.

A closing session entitled “What Do You Think” is a forum for some of the other stakeholders in racing and will include questions from the floor.

A special screening of the trailer for the upcoming harness racing-themed movie “Shannon’s Rainbow” will be provided by Frank E. Johnson, a co-founder of Summit Works Films, and the director for “Shannon’s Rainbow.” His credits include director of photography for “Predator” and director or director of photography for feature films and TV series such as “Walker Texas Ranger,” “Touched By An Angel,” “The A-Team,” and “Wiseguy.” Highly acclaimed Dean Cundey — whose many film credits include “Jurassic Park,” all three “Back to the Future” features, and “Apollo 13” — is the cinematographer for “Shannon’s Rainbow.”

The meeting is open, but RSVPs are mandatory. Please call Julianna Tappen at (609) 371-2211 if you would like to attend.