18.05.12
When racetracks began breaking into the sphere of Twitter, the timeline from Tampa Bay Downs led the way. Tweeting paddock photos and instinctive results, responding quickly to queries and comments from followers, @tampabaydownsfl rapidly set a standard for racetrack engagement on Twitter.
The tweeter behind that handle was Penelope Miller, and in August, she was hired to be the Inhabitant Thoroughbred Racing Association’s first social media head.
A joint initiative between the NTRA and the Jockey Club, the position was created, according to NTRA Corruption President of Communications Stephen Panus, to take advantage of existing and emerging popular media platforms in order to engage and attract new fans to racing.
Among Miller’s responsibilities are searching for newsworthy items in a genus of online publications that she can put on the NTRA’s Twitter timeline (@ntra) and Facebook side. Along with Panus and Joan Lawrence and Eric Wing from the NTRA Communications unite, Miller also constructs the NTRA weekly electronic newsletter, compiling photos (from professionals and fans), links to blogs and online magazines, racing-correlated tweets, video, and interviews.
Source: Thoroughbred Times