by John Pawlak, marketing director, USTA

Columbus, OH — The U.S. Trotting Association will again make matching grants, totaling $10,000, to county fairs as a means of encouraging the promotion of harness racing. The USTA is in the process of mailing requests for proposals to each of the approximately 250 state and county fairs which will host racing this year.

Fairs and colt associations who seek the funding are asked to provide a detailed marketing plan, including a budget, and the USTA will select the leading proposals. The number of fairs receiving grants will be determined by the amounts requested, and by the amounts the USTA determines it will offer in support. Organizations must make expenditures in order to be considered for matching grants from the USTA.

The program, which began in 2006, has drawn some outstanding ideas in its first two years: proposals have included using funds for a live radio broadcast of races and local sportscaster visits, restaurant placemats to promote the fair throughout the host county and surrounding counties, stick and pedal horse races on the racetrack, T-shirt tosses by winning drivers in the winner’s circle, a “jog cart jamboree” with fans “driving” the drivers, program cover contests, and various forms of advertising, including radio, television and billboards.

Local organizations will be given the opportunity to submit marketing and/or publicity proposals, a detailed budget, and a statement of need, and applications will be judged on originality and need.

The number of grant applications received in 2007 was up 27 percent from the inaugural year, and as a result the USTA board increased the total amount available for grants to $10,000 in the second year — a level that will be maintained this year.