SECOND ANNUAL NTRA MEMBERSHIP MEETING TO BE HELD OCT. 10-11 IN LEXINGTON

Membership Matters, Marketing and Legislative Programs Highlight Presentations

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) today announced the agenda for its second annual membership meeting, to be held Oct. 10-11 in Lexington, Ky., at the Embassy Suites Hotel. Representatives from more than 40 member organizations are expected to attend.

Two half-day sessions will be held, both of which run from 8:30 a.m. until noon.

The Wednesday agenda, which begins with a welcoming address by NTRA Commissioner Tim Smith, includes

• a review of the year's activities, highlighted by the re-branding of the Breeders' Cup as the World Thoroughbred Championships and the NTRA/Breeders' Cup Limited operational combination;
• budget matters and membership renewals; and
• advertising and marketing, focusing on the NTRA co-op advertising and ESPN awareness programs, national consumer promotions and Internet and e-marketing.

Thursday's program features discussions of

• NTRA initiatives on legislative and regulatory programs;
• television;
• sponsorships;
• racing programs;
• media, industry and public relations; and
• the NTRA Drug Testing Task Force.

The meeting is open to the media and NTRA members. For more information or to make reservations contact Betsy Vandevender at (859) 223-5444, ext. 1018, or e-mail bvandevender@ntra.com.

The NTRA is a broad-based coalition of horseracing interests, including the American Quarter Horse Association, charged with increasing popularity of horseracing and improving economic conditions for industry participants. The NTRA and Breeders' Cup Limited also conduct the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, Thoroughbred racing's year-end Championships consisting of eight races and $13 million in purses and awards, and the Breeders' Cup National Stakes Program, both of which are funded by the industry's owners and breeders. The NTRA has offices in Lexington, Ky., and New York City. A compendium of NTRA press releases appears on the NTRA Web site, ntra.com, and at the Web site for the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, breederscup.com. Contact the NTRA at ntra@ntra.com.