The Pennsylvania Horse Racing Association, an organization launched last year by stakeholders in the horse racing and breeding industry to market and promote the sport, has launched a new website to engage and make horse racing, breeding, and ownership opportunities more accessible to both newcomers and veteran fans.
Horse racing has been described as one of the most exciting sports on the planet, but stakeholders in the racing and breeding industry recognized that it is not always the easiest sport to understand for casual fans and those who are new to the sport.
That’s why the PHRA designed the site, pennhorseracing.com, to bridge that knowledge gap and give harness and Thoroughbred horse racing fans at all levels a guided experience of everything they need in order to visit and enjoy a trip to one of the Commonwealth’s six harness or Thoroughbred racetracks.
“When you understand the nuances of a sport — what goes into preparing for an event, the strategy, and what key terms mean — it becomes more enjoyable and engaging, and that applies to horse racing as well,” said Pete Peterson, president of the PHRA. “Our goal with this site was to create a destination where newcomers, casual fans and veterans could go for information and news on horse racing and breeding in Pennsylvania.”
According to Peterson, the site is designed to be a one-stop resource for horse racing fans and make finding information about the sport easier.
“There are a lot of great horse racing resources, but we found the information was very segmented and, in some cases, geared toward industry veterans and insiders. This site is unique in that it focuses on both harness and Thoroughbred racing — as well as Standardbred and Thoroughbred breeding — right here in Pennsylvania,” said Peterson. “The site will be updated regularly with new content and resources, and it brings many of the different aspects of horse racing together to provide a resource for all racing fans — whether they are brand-new to the sport or have been visiting the tracks for years.”
For newcomers and casual fans, the new PHRA website provides resources, such as an A-to-Z glossary of horse racing terms, a simplified overview of how to read a race program, and a primer on how to place a wager. For longtime fans, the site has details on the Commonwealth’s rich horse racing history, details on the sport’s economic impact across Pennsylvania, and articles and blog posts on current news in the racing and breeding industries.
PennHorseRacing.com has a number of features, including:
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A map of harness and Thoroughbred racing tracks, as well as off-track wagering facilities in Pennsylvania
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A calendar of horse racing events in Pennsylvania
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A primer on the differences between harness and Thoroughbred racing
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Information on what fans can expect when visiting a track — from attire and seating to food and drink options
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Detailed information about Standardbred and Thoroughbred horse breeding in Pennsylvania
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Multimedia videos and graphics
“We don’t want a lack of knowledge to be a deterrent for people to visit a track or have an enjoyable experience,” said Ashley Eisenbeil, director of marketing for the PHRA. “This site presents information in a way that’s easy to understand and that serves as an ongoing resource for horse racing fans, both current and future.”
Pennsylvania is home to six harness and Thoroughbred horse racing tracks, including three harness tracks: The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania); The Meadows Racetrack & Casino (Washington, Pennsylvania); and Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack (Chester, Pennsylvania), as well as three Thoroughbred venues: Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course (Grantville, Pennsylvania); Parx Racing at Parx Casino (Bensalem, Pennsylvania); and Presque Isle Downs & Casino (Erie, Pennsylvania).
The PHRA was created in 2018 with the goal of promoting horse racing in Pennsylvania, attracting new fans, and educating Pennsylvanians about a sport that is a significant contributor to the state’s economy. Horse racing and breeding in Pennsylvania contributes $1.6 billion to the state’s economy, employs more than 23,000 people, and is responsible for the preservation of tens of thousands of acres of open space.
The PHRA is composed of key stakeholders in the horse racing and breeding industry, including the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association, the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, the Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, and the Standardbred Breeders Association of Pennsylvania.
(PHRA)