Youbet Lines up Top Harness Driver Endorsements
biz.yahoo.com
Tuesday June 13, 11:55 am ET
Power-Filled `Team Youbet' Features Campbell, Manzi, Miller
WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 13, 2006--Youbet.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:UBET) announced today that three of harness racing's greatest contemporary horsemen will act as exclusive spokespersons for the online wagering company's standardbred content. Drivers John Campbell, Catello "Cat Man" Manzi and David Miller will be featured as "Team Youbet" in programs and publications promoting harness racing to Youbet's nationwide audience of advanced deposit wagering customers.
"Our online network has experienced a substantial increase in harness wagering over the past two years," said Youbet CEO Charles F. Champion. "That's testimony to the quality and online popularity of the standardbred product we offer and to the powerful role played by the sport's top performers. It's an honor to be represented by the Campbell-Manzi-Miller team -- a trio of men who are among the sport's most productive, popular and successful figures.
"Our mission is to bring excitement and value-added information and perspective to our customers," Champion continued, "and these drivers do it on the track with their racing skills and off the track with their passion for the sport."
The three stars will wear Youbet logos on their driving silks and at personal appearances. They will regularly appear in online promotions at the company's wagering website and they will offer harness bettors exclusive "driver-side" comments in Youbet's Harness Racing Insider.
The Insider is an online magazine for Youbet subscribers that features wagering strategies from veteran harness handicappers and journalists as well statistics, promotions and other exclusive harness racing content. The perspectives of Campbell, Manzi and Miller will give Youbet customers rare and valuable insights into harness events, race cards, horses and venues.
John Campbell, who has been a Youbet spokesperson since 2004, is the sport's all-time money-earner with more than $233 million in purses. He became the first harness driver in history to reach $100 million in earnings at a single racetrack (the Meadowlands) and the first to top $14 million in single-season earnings. Campbell has won 16 driving titles at the Meadowlands and over 9,600 races, including at least one of each major stakes race on the standardbred calendar. Many consider him to be the most well-known personality in the sport today.
Catello Manzi, known to fans as the "Cat Man," was voted 2005 Driver of the Year by the United States Harness Writers Association. Manzi, like Campbell, is a member of the sport's Hall of Fame. He is second in career North American wins with more than 11,700, trailing only the legendary Herve Filion. On the all-time earnings list, he is third behind Campbell and Mike Lachance with more than $110 million.
David Miller was a dominant force on the Buckeye State circuit for nearly a decade before coming east. He drove pacing triple crown-winner No Pan Intended to all of the colt's crown victories in 2003. Miller set up tack at the Meadowlands and has earned more than $30 million in purses at the New Jersey track. Between his years in Ohio as a top driver and his successful efforts in the East and on the Grand Circuit, Miller has won almost 8,000 races.
"Adding Cat and David as endorsers with John to create Team Youbet shows a lasting commitment to a strong relationship with the fans and the sport," says Chuck Geffen, CEO of Branding Rights, LLC, agent for the drivers. |
