Race Dates Set for RUS NY 2014 Fair Series

Monticello, NY, May 14, 2014 --(PR.com)-- County fairs throughout New York State are poised to come to life in a few months. While the New York Sire Stakes harness racing has become an American tradition at many of these fairs, RUS NY hopes to heighten the excitement for another kind of racing - racing under saddle.

Also known as Monté racing internationally, RUS is a hybrid of harness and thoroughbred racing. Standardbreds that generally race pulling sulkies are ridden with English, thoroughbred or special RUS saddles. The horses are started behind a moving starting gate just like in harness racing.

In conjunction with the NYSS, RUS New York has put together a seven race fair series to promote the sport as well as showcase the versatility of the Standardbred. The series will feature six legs, culminating in a championship final race to be held at Tompkins County Fair in Trumansburg.

Official dates and locations for the summer series are as follows:

• 7/3 Thu - Goshen Meet, Goshen, NY
• 7/10 Thu - Afton Fair, Afton, NY
• 7/14 Mon - Seneca County Fair, Waterloo, NY
• 7/29 Tues - Otsego County Fair, Morris, NY
• 8/5 Tues- Chenango County Fair, Norwich, NY
• 8/12 Tues - Steuben County Fair, Bath, NY
• 8/19 Tues - Tompkins County Fair, Trumansburg, NY Series Final race

Full race series conditions and point system will be published prior to the start of the season and available on the RUS NY Facebook page, as well as through a press release distributed via USTA and RUS America. Race dates subject to change.

According to the United States Trotting Association, county fairs provided an ideal venue in the early days for friends and neighbors to race their horses against one another. In a more agrarian time, when the fair was the highlight of the summer, people would bring their fastest road horse for racing just as they brought their prize livestock or produce for judging. The first harness racing tracks were opened in the mid 1800s, but harness racing events could be found as early as 1825 at county fairs all around the country. By the late 19th century, harness racing was one of the most popular sports in America.

Today, harness racing can still be found in the hundreds of county fairs that host the sport each year. Our goal is to have RUS become just as popular by adding yet another form of horse racing to the fair circuit, as well as to major tracks across the country.

RUS New York and RUS Nation are offering unique marketing sponsorship opportunities to allow companies to support this new, exciting sport, while also receiving prime marketing and exposure for their companies through the international agency Horsefly Group. Marketing sponsor Horsefly Group is offering special packages specifically to RUS sponsors and fans to help promote the 2014 Fair Series and the sport. For more information on how to become a sponsor, contact CJ Millar at cj@horseflygroup.com or 973.626.3673.

RUS NY Committee
• Michelle Miller, Racing Coordinator, current RUS licensed rider
• Jennifer Lowrey, RUS Advisor, current RUS licensed rider
• CJ Millar, Marketing Director, current RUS licensed rider (pre-race coordinator with all RUS competitors, and winner’s circle presenter on behalf of sponsors)