The NTRA board of directors approved the plan Tuesday.

"We're no different than any other sector of the economy," NTRA commissioner Tim Smith said Wednesday during the first session of the organization's annual meeting in Lexington. "We'll have lower revenues in some areas. We don't want to paint a competition- or challenge-free picture for 2002."

Details of the stimulus package will be released in December. It will involve special-day promotions, cash giveaways, and probably patriotic themes. The focus will be on the casual fan, and the program tied to the existing cooperative advertising program in use by member racetracks.

As for the 2002 budget, chief financial officer Ferguson Taylor said the stimulus package will be mostly paid for by $1.5 million in budget surplus and $1 million in accumulated reserves. Meanwhile, the NTRA board of directors on Tuesday agree to cut overhead, implement a hiring freeze, and reduce expenses.

Taylor and other NTRA officials said 2002 may offer more opportunities because other organizations may cut advertising spending, for example, and open windows for horse racing. The largest revenue growth area for 2002 is the television, sponsorships, and marketing category, which could double to $10 million.

The "Great State Challenge," a six-race series for state-bred horses, has been approved by the NTRA board, but a few loose ends remain, such as when and where the series will be held. Initially, the series was to be held the day before the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, perhaps as early as 2002, but that date may change pending further discussions.

A key component of the proposal is sponsorships. NTRA officials said feedback has been good because state-bred days around the country offer regional marketing opportunities as well as a chance to network with state legislators.

In the area of television, Smith said the Breeders' Cup contract with NBC probably would be renewed "on a multi-year basis." He did say two other networks expressed an interest in the deal.

In the area of membership, the NTRA will seek contracts longer than a year in duration beginning with 2002. Smith said the NTRA will offer four-year packages that will have a two-year opt-out clause. He said the hope is that by completion of the second year, a member will have realized enough benefits and have no desire to end the contract.

In regard to the Oct. 27 World Thoroughbred Championships, Breeders' Cup president D.G. Van Clief Jr. said the organization is "completely focused" on the signficance of the event in light of the attacks on the World Trade Center towers. Public service announcements in the New York City market will tie together racing heroes and human heroes, to whom the event is dedicated this year.