The Great Pocomoke Fair, one of Pocomoke City’s most treasured traditions, has received a boost to its 2025 harness racing program thanks to a national grant from the United States Trotting Association (USTA).
On June 27, the USTA announced the winners of its annual Matching Funds Grant Program, awarding 13 fairs across the country with funds to support local harness racing promotion. Among them was The Great Pocomoke Fair, the only fair in Maryland’s Lower Shore region to receive the honor this year.
Now in its 19th year, the USTA’s Matching Funds Grant Program helps support marketing efforts for harness racing events at county and agricultural fairs. The grant provides 50 percent of a fair’s promotional budget, up to $1,000. According to the USTA’s announcement, recipients are using the funds for billboards, radio spots, newspaper ads, yard signs, social media campaigns, and other outreach tools.
This award is a timely recognition for the Pocomoke fairgrounds, which continue to serve as a local hub for community gatherings, heritage events, and equestrian sports. The grant will help shine a brighter spotlight on the fair’s harness racing schedule, one of the marquee draws for fans of the sport and fairgoers alike.
The Great Pocomoke Fair joins other awardees such as The Great Frederick Fair (Frederick, MD), Crawford County Fair (OH), and Goshen Historic Track (NY) in a nationwide effort to keep the tradition of fair racing alive and thriving.
The full announcement can be found on the U.S. Trotting Association’s website, with details published by Jessica Schroeder, USTA Membership Enrichment & Outreach Coordinator, on June 27, 2025: https://fairs.ustrotting.com/funds.
The next Live Harness Race is scheduled for Saturday, August 2, 2025 at 12:30 p.m. during the Fair.
Leave a Reply