Standardbred Groups Join NTRA Purchasing

The United States Trotting Association and Harness Tracks of America will become partners in NTRA Purchasing, officials announced May 25.

The program, offered by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, provides cost savings on products and services from Dodge, John Deere, FedEx, Lexmark, NetJets, Presort Services, Daktronics, Sherwin-Williams Paints, OfficeMax, Hallway Feeds, and other companies.

The agreement with the Standardbred industry is similar to NTRA Purchasing's "Members Plus" relationship with the American Quarter Horse Association, and its "USEF Memberperks" relationship with the United States Equestrian Federation.

"We are delighted to welcome the USTA and HTA to the NTRA Purchasing program," NTRA Purchasing president Joe Morris said in a release. "The participation of these two outstanding organizations will significantly strengthen the collective buying power of NTRA Purchasing and allow us to generate even more savings for the horse industry."

NTRA Purchasing has generated $107 million in sales and $25 million in savings to the equine industry since its inception in 2002. In 2004, sales topped $60 million.

The USTA is the national governing and promotional body for the harness racing and has 24,800 members. HTA is an association of 35 harness tracks and related organizations in the United States and Canada.