USTA grants funds to fairs

The U.S. Trotting Association today announced the names of 20 county fairs that will receive $500 matching grants to promote their races this summer.

Grant proposals included using funds for a live radio broadcast of races, restaurant placemats to promote an entire circuit, flyers in local newspapers, a traveling exhibit to celebrate the 75th anniversary of harness racing in multiple counties, a photo mug giveaway, a T-shirt toss, visits by 2000 Horse of the Year Gallo Blue Chip, bringing in Roger Huston as a guest announcer, a sulky race with area high school athlete standouts, and various forms of advertising that include radio, television and signage.

The grants were awarded to:

Cobleskill Agriculture Society, New York
Coles County Fair Board, Illinois
the Darke County Agriculture Society, Ohio
the Decatur – Macon County Fair Board, Illinois
Fowlerville Harness Horsemen’s Association, Michigan
the Gratz Fair Association, Pennsylvania
the Greene County Fair Board, Ohio
the Lake County Fair, Ohio
Legacy Harness Horse Foundation, Iowa
the Mercer County Agriculture Society, Ohio
the Mercer County Fair, Illinois
the Northwestern Ohio Colt Racing Association, Ohio
Ottawa County Harness Horsemen’s Association, Ohio
Oxford County Agriculture Society, Maine
Ross County Harness Horsemen’s Association, Ohio
the State Fair of West Virginia, West Virginia
Van Wert County Fair, Ohio
Vassar Fair Board (Tuscola County), Michigan
the White County Fair Board, Illinois
the Wisconsin Harness Horse Association, Wisconsin.

In support of county fair programs across the country, the USTA made available $10,000 in grant money to help sponsor marketing and publicity campaigns to promote their harness racing events. The original program included $5,000 in grant money representing 10 winners; however, in response to applications from dozens of fairs, USTA representatives allocated an additional $5,000 for grants. Each organization must provide equal or greater matching funds.

Local organizations had the opportunity to create their marketing and/or publicity proposals, a detailed budget and a statement of need to submit for judging. Applications were judged on originality and need.

“It was a very difficult decision to narrow the applications to the top 20, let alone the top 10,” said T.C. Lane, USTA director of officials and matching funds coordinator. “We were very pleased with not only the number of applications, but the quality and effort that is being planned to promote racing at the county fairs is overwhelming.” Applications came from individual counties, multiple county organizations, colt circuits and local horsemen’s associations.

USTA release

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