Here’s your chance to share the passion you feel for Canadian harness racing and be an ambassador for the sport!

The Bring A Friend National promotion is back for the second consecutive year and will be hosted at tracks across the country during the weekend of June 6-8.

This is a co-operative effort between Standardbred Canada, racetracks and the ‘I Love Canadian Harness Racing’ Fan Club.

Last year, 12 racetracks took part and members and industry participants introduced over 1,000 new people to harness racing.

“The feedback and enthusiasm from our racetrack partners for last year’s event was very positive. Every track that took part last year has signed up for this year – provided they are racing on the June 6 – 8 weekend. This year, we felt an earlier weekend in the season would be better to give people the chance to make some repeat visits to the tracks,” commented Kathy Wade Vlaar, SC’s manager of Industry Marketing.

So far, the following 10 tracks have confirmed that they’ll take part this year: Alberta Downs, Exhibition Park Raceway, Georgian Downs, Grand River Raceway, Hanover Raceway, Mohawk Racetrack, Northside Downs, Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park, Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at Summerside, and Truro Raceway.

The challenge is for everyone involved in the industry – SC members, commission licensees, trades people, etc. – to bring a friend to the harness races on the weekend of June 6 – 8. The friends should be people who have never been to the harness races or haven’t visited a track in the past year.

To ensure our guests get the VIP treatment and have an amazing experience, you will be tasked with hosting your own guests and helping them understand what happens at the track. Show them the basics in reading a program, making a bet; explain what happens in between the races, etc.

Our racetrack partners are going to provide us with activities, contests, draws and offers to enhance the experience. Some tracks will offer free programs, a free $2 bet, food and beverage discounts, draws for rides in the starting gate car, winner’s circle presentations, paddock tours, driver meet and greets, and beginner handicapping workshops.

We are relying on you, the membership and industry participants, to drive this event – promote this, invite your friends and host them at the track.

Standardbred Canada is supporting and promoting this event with extensive web coverage, dedicated web pages, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

Our centralized registration areas will open on Friday, May 9 when we post the list of confirmed tracks and activities, along with our evites that you can use to invite your guests.