Harrisburg, PA — Two Standardbred organizations made marketing presentations during the Oct. 31 meeting of the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission.

Representatives of the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association and Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association provided a look at 2023 and a preview of 2024. The groups are two of six along with the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Association that receive a share of slot machine revenue dedicated to marketing Standardbred and Thoroughbred racing and breeding.

MSOA marketing consultant Jennifer Miele said the organization had undertaken “a massive effort to identify audiences that may be new to horse racing but have a propensity to wager.” The MSOA had authorized a loyalty rewards program and employs a customer relationship management database.

The MSOA and Hollywood Casino at The Meadows in 2020 launched a 5-1/2 hour live stream of the Adios Day program because of COVID-19 restrictions and decided it was successful enough to continue in subsequent years. The show, which features live racing, commentary, handicapping and interviews, had viewership on Facebook and YouTube of about 76,000 this year.

Miele and MSOA marketing director Tasha McCormick noted that MSOA works in partnership with the racetrack and the PHRA, whose representatives regularly attend major racing events in the state.

Rachel Olszewski, communications and marketing manager for the PHHA, said the organization allocates most of its funding to supply TrackMaster past performances, produce the “PA Harness Week” television program, and to offer support during live racing events at Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack and Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.

Olszewski said 2023 marked the third year of providing free past performances online for the two tracks, and the popularity continues to increase as evidenced by a steady reduction in the cost per download. “You’re kind of a unicorn if you don’t have (free) PPs for your betting public,” she said.

“PA Harness Week” this year had ratings just short of the highest number over the past six years, Olszewski said, and the plan for 2024 is to create some “on-the-road segments” to complement studio-based shows.