NTRA Annual Meeting/Marketing Summit Set for Sept 29-Oct. 1

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced it will hold its annual meeting and marketing summit Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at The Mirage in Las Vegas. For the first time, the annual meeting will be held in Las Vegas and in conjunction with the marketing summit, which in previous years was held in early spring.

"By uniting the two events we can offer much broader membership information to a wider audience," said Keith Chamblin, NTRA senior vice president -- marketing and industry relations. "The shift to a fall date also allows us to present our 2003 plans well in advance of the upcoming year."

The annual meeting will be held Sept. 30, beginning at 9 a.m. The marketing summit will immediately follow the annual meeting and conclude at 3 p.m. Workshops on promotions, merchandising, group purchasing, and advertising are slated for Oct. 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Annual meeting topics include television, sponsorship, NTRA strategic goals for 2002-2003, updates on the NTRA/Breeders' Cup operational combination and combined finances, membership, legislative and regulatory programs, the NTRA Racing Integrity and Drug Testing Task Force, and group purchasing.

The Marketing Summit will include updates on national consumer research, the NTRA's 2002-2003 advertising campaign, NTRA Creative Services, national promotions, Internet and marketing strategies for 2003, the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, Great State Challenge, public relations, and NTRA Charities.

The annual meeting is free and open to all NTRA members and the media. Marketing Summit attendees must register by contacting Amy Boccuzzi, NTRA manager of advertising and promotions, at (212) 907-9282 or aboccuzzi@ntra.com. Audio streaming of the annual meeting will be available on the NTRA Web site -- ntra.com. NTRA will continue to publish its audited financials, which are produced each spring in its Annual Report.

Hotel reservations must be made directly with The Mirage at (800) 499-6311 or online at mirage.com. Attendees should request the NTRA marketing summit room rate, which is $119 per night and is available to the first 200 participants through Aug. 29.