Home > Fairs Home > PROMOTIONS FOR YOUR FAIRS

Promotions for Your Fairs

Harness racing has its roots at the county fairs and benefits from the experience gained by trainers and drivers in the "minor leagues." Many fans get their first taste of harness racing at a county fair too.

Getting crowds to fill the grandstands was once as easy as simply unlocking the gates, but in an age of increased media competition, you have to go out and find your fans. Having the right plan and the right tools is of great importance. At the USTA, we have resources for you to increase coverage in your newspaper, increase attendance and participation in your grandstands, and provide individual contacts from our own publicity and public relations offices.

Racing offers a means to connect with your community that no other grandstand attraction provides. Owners, trainers, breeders and drivers are year-round members of your community. Their activities in the sport should be of interest to the members of your local media and should be readily accessible to you and to the press when you need them. Many are professionals outside the sport of harness racing and cooperate readily because they know the value of good exposure in their own businesses.

Increased press coverage, and the potential increase in attendance it can bring, come at a price - hard work! The rewards, however, can be quite handsome in terms of increased revenues, packed grandstands and eventually more horses. Make sure you plan ahead - the best time to plan for your county fair publicity schedule is now! Take your local sports editor out to lunch, plan an advertising schedule and, hopefully, press coverage will follow.

With excerpts from "County Fair Publicity & Promotion Guide"

Download Program Covers & Space Fillers, Letters, etc

USTA Table Top Promo Booth

Grandstand Ideas

Promotional ideas that not only get fans in the stands (or butts in the seats) but can generate income for your horsemen’s association will be your biggest asset.  Some of these ideas work better if you have a race meet as opposed to racing during the fair (ie. Dollar Night or Student Night).

Race Sponsorships:  “Sell” a race for $150 and the business gets the race named for them in the program, presents the trophy blanket, offer a few fair passes and give them a sign to put up in their store.  Make sure you promote the race with signs around town (The Daily Times Pace or The WTVR Trot, etc)

Jog Cart Jamboree:  Between races have a race with people pulling jog carts down the stretch to benefit a charity.  The charity should get the right to “drive” a horseman or person of their choice in a jog cart.  A purse could be put up by the fair and/or horsemen or fans can buy the right to drive.  They can line up behind the starting gate and your announcer calls the race.  If you sell “buys to drive” beforehand, make sure that they get a certain number of passes along with their donation.

Door Prizes: To keep people in the stands once they’ve sat down, give out something at periodic times throughout the card.  Put door prize “coupons” in the program and draw, maybe after every other race, for a ride in the starting gate or if you have pari-mutuel betting, offer a free $5 bet.  Solicit donations from local businesses, a $25 gas card, free car wash, etc.

Pick-A-Winner: Works well if your fair doesn’t have pari-mutuel betting by getting the fans a specific horse to root for.  In the program have entry blanks available for every race.  The fan picks one horse out of the race, puts down their name and address and drops it in a drum, or have little kids volunteer to run up and down to pick up the tickets.  After the race is official, pick a winning entry blank and give $5 or gift certificates to local businesses.  Can be used in conjunction with door prizes (above).

Student Nights: Get a popular college or high school band to perform after the races.  Say races start at 5pm and the band will start around 7:30pm, offer free admission as long as the races are going on (ie.  arrive by 6pm and admission is free).

Dollar Night: Buy one, get one free admission, dollar hotdogs, etc.


 Upcoming Fairs
 START DATE
 
Fairs Home | Fair News | Find a Fair | Matching Funds Grant | Promotions | Putting on a Race Program | Contacts & Resources
 HOME   |  PATHWAY   |  RACE PROGRAMS   |  STALLION REGISTRY   |  HOOF BEATS   |  VIDEOS   |  HARNESSPHERE   |  SHOP   |  CONTACT