The United States Trotting Association Strategic Wagering Program is joining forces with the Daily Racing Form to promote 41 of harness racing’s most important stakes races on 28 dates at 15 racetracks across the United States in 2013.
As part of the sponsorship agreement, Daily Racing Form will publish past performances for each of the 41 major stakes races, as well as race analysis and strategic wagering promotional information, in their national print edition on those race days.
Also, each participating racetrack will have the opportunity to supplement this print campaign with additional online support on drf.com.
“We are pleased to partner with the Daily Racing Form in spotlighting our major stakes races,” said USTA Director Chris Schick, who manages the Strategic Wagering Program. “With this promotional and editorial support from DRF, we will showcase our biggest races to their well-established thoroughbred audience and demonstrate the excitement and value in wagering on harness racing.”
“Daily Racing Form is committed to help expand the harness racing fan base through our print, digital and mobile platforms,” said John Hartig, CEO, Daily Racing Form. “The cross-over opportunity is exciting as DRF's loyal players are always looking for quality wagering action, which these major harness race days offer.”
In addition, the Daily Racing Form will provide expanded coverage that includes past performances for all 12 Breeders Crown races at Pocono Downs on Saturday, October 19.
The $200,000 Dan Patch Invitational at Hoosier Park on Saturday, May 25 and the $250,000 Maxie Lee Memorial at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday, May 26 kick off the program this weekend. On each weekend day, there will be a two-page spread with analysis from Daily Racing Form’s Managing Editor-Harness Derick Giwner, promotion of Strategic Wagering guaranteed pool wagers and the complete past performances for each featured race.
At Hoosier Park this Saturday, there will be a strategic wager $25,000 guaranteed superfecta on the Dan Patch, the 11th race on the card as well as a $10,000 guaranteed Pick 4 anchored by the Dan Patch on races 8-11. DRF.com features a special Dan Patch event page.
On Sunday, two $250,000 stakes highlight the Harrah’s Philadelphia $15,000 guaranteed Pick-4 Strategic Wager on races nine through 12 with the Betsy Ross Invitational as the 10th race and the Maxie Lee as the fourth and final leg in Race 12.
The U.S. Trotting Association, in cooperation with its member tracks, established the USTA Strategic Wagering Program in April 2011 to provide value to horseplayers by guaranteeing the size of designated betting pools. Since its inception, the Strategic Wagering Program has provided guaranteed wagers at 24 different racetracks and has averaged 90 wagers per month. The responsibility for these guarantees is shared equally by the USTA, the track hosting the wager, and on some occasions, the local horsemen’s association.
(USTA)