The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced Monday that vouchers, including one that can be redeemed for a $1 million grand prize, have been mailed to consumers around the country as part of this Saturday's NTRA Mystery Mutuel Voucher promotion. The voucher giveaway is the NTRA's 12th such promotion dating back to August 2000. The vouchers are redeemable for cash on April 15 at participating racetracks and OTBs. Mystery Mutuel Vouchers are coded tickets worth from $2 to $1 million that are distributed in local markets via direct mail, accompanied by customized brochures. During the first 11 Mystery Mutuel Voucher promotions, more than $31 million worth of vouchers have been circulated, resulting in double-digit increases in pari-mutuel handle and attendance at most participating sites compared to the same weekend date from the prior year. The 12 sites participating on April 15 are: --Arlington Park
--Canterbury Park
--Churchill Downs/Twin Spires Club
--Delaware Park
--Ellis Park
--Emerald Downs
--Harrah's Louisiana Downs
--Hoosier Park
--Meadowlands Racetrack
--Monmouth Park
--Mountaineer Park
--Oaklawn Park The Mystery Mutuel Voucher redemption coincides with major stakes, including the Arkansas Derby (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park and the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland."Based on redemption rates that far exceed the marketing industry norm, we think the Mystery Mutuel Voucher promotion is one of the most effective direct mail initiatives in sports," said Keith Chamblin, NTRA senior vice president-communications. "We hope to again drive attendance and handle at all 12 of our participating NTRA-member sites, and we'd love to see someone finally redeem our grand prize voucher and go home $1 million richer." The promotion features model lists for tracks to augment their mailings, provided at no cost by the NTRA, and volume-generated discounts on printing and mailing by Presort Services, the NTRA's official supplier for integrated marketing services, which offers customized post-event analysis for each site.
The NTRA's other Mystery Mutuel Voucher promotion in 2006 is slated for August 12.
