HANA Harness Announces Pool Party at Western Fair. Track Management Asks Customers to Card the Pick 4 Races!

HANA Harness Announces Western Fair Raceway Pick 4 “Pool Party” for Molson Pace night – Horseplayers, in an Industry First, are Asked to “Pick the Pick 4”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(May 10th, 2011, Charlottesville, VA) -  The Horseplayers Association of North America’s Harness Racing division “HANA Harness” is happy to announce a “Pool Party” for the pick 4 at Western Fair Raceway on $300,000E Molson Pace night, Friday, May 27^th 2011.

“Pool Parties” were first introduced by HANA in 2009. The concept is simple: Horseplayers gather to bet a specific pool on a specific day or evening to show support for a racetrack who is being customer friendly in myriad ways. Previous pool parties for the thoroughbreds have been held at tracks like Tampa Bay Downs, Hawthorne Race Course and others.

Western Fair was chosen because they recently dropped their pick 4 takeout from 25% to 15%. In addition the racetrack has begun guaranteeing their pick 4 pools, and will be guaranteeing this special pick 4 at $10,000.  There is also a new twist: Western Fair’s management has asked their horseplayers and customers to “Pick the Pick 4” races.

 The Pick 4 (called a “Win 4” at Western Fair) will include the Molson Pace in its sequence, but the other three races are up for discussion.  Horseplayers have often wanted a certain type of race, or race, in a pick 4 sequence only to see the race office card another. It is now their chance to be heard. Via a survey link (below), you will choose the types of races which will make up the pick 4 sequence.

“We are pleased to support Western Fair’s big night” said HANA President Jeff Platt.  “Picking the Pick 4 is a great idea and the track should be commended for engaging customers in such a way. We are excited to be a part of this and encourage all horseplayers to play a few dollars to support the track.”

Greg Blanchard, Western Fair’s Assistant Racing Manager and Announcer noted: “It is very exciting to be the first harness track to host a HANA pool party. In terms of having horseplayers choose the sequence, we think it makes perfect sense that players should have some input into what they want to wager on. We hope this adds to what promises to be a great night of racing.”

HANA Harness is currently working on a few items which we hope makes the night even more player friendly:  We are lining up advance deposit wagering companies to offer special rewards for the pick 4, will be posting free past performances on the website, and offering picks and selections from various players and sources. Currently in Canada, Horseplayer Interactive, the largest ADW in that country, is offering 10X the reward points on the card.

To keep informed, or to get involved, please join HANA Harness at http://www.horseplayersassociation.org and watch for updates on our blog.

If you are a horseplayer and you’d like to vote on the pick 4 races please visit: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WesternFair

For a web copy of this press release, please visit: http://blog.horseplayersassociation.org/2011/05/hana-harness-announces-pool-party-at.html

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The Horseplayers Association of North America is a grassroots group of horseplayers, not affiliated with any organization, who are not pleased with the direction the game has taken. HANA believes that both tracks and horseman groups have become bogged down with industry infighting and have completely forgotten something: The importance of the customer. HANA hopes, through proactive change on several key issues (including but not limited to), open signal access, lower effective takeouts, wagering integrity, affordable data and customer appreciation, the industry’s handle losses can be reversed. HANA is currently made up of approximately 2000 horseplayers (both harness and thoroughbred) from almost all states and Canadian provinces. It currently represents over $80,000,000 of yearly racing handle.

Our web address is http://www.horseplayersassociation.org and interested horseplayers can sign up there for free. We are horseplayers, just like you and we are trying to make a difference. We need, appreciate, and ask humbly for your support.