USTA Board of Directors Annual Meeting starts Sunday
February 23, 2017,from the USTA Communications Department
Columbus, OH — The U.S. Trotting Association’s 2017 Board of Directors Annual Meeting is scheduled for Sunday (Feb. 26) through Tuesday (Feb. 28) at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
The meetings kick off with the Executive Committee at 1 p.m. (PST) followed by the Marketing/Communications Committee at 2 p.m. on Sunday (Feb. 26).
Sunday (Feb. 26) evening, the U.S. Harness Writers Association will host the Dan Patch Awards, presented by Hoosier Park, at Planet Hollywood.
On Monday (Feb. 27), there will be a live stream of the Board of Director’s General Session followed by two panel discussions starting at 8 a.m. (PST). To watch the live stream of the General Session, click on the banner near the top of the USTA website home page at www.ustrotting.com.
The Registration Committee will meet in the afternoon.
Highlighting this year’s General Session agenda is the election of five USTA officers — president, chairman and vice-chairman of the board, treasurer and secretary. The panels, co-hosted by Harness Horsemen International and the USTA, will discuss out of competition testing and uniformity in racing.
Following is the agenda for Monday’s (Feb. 27) General Session:
8:00 a.m. (PST) BOARD OF DIRECTORS
1. Call to Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call
4. District 8 Track Director Election Protest
5. Introduction of New Directors
6. Report of the President
7. Candidates’ Statements
8. Election of Officers
9. Meadowlands Survey Request
10. Guest Speakers
• Dan Gall, President/CEO, Standardbred Canada
• Tom Luchento, President, Harness Horseman Int.
• Ed Martin, President, Racing Commissioners Int.
• Julie Broadway CAE, President, American Horse Council
11. Group Picture
11:00 a.m. (PST) JOINT USTA/HHI PANEL DISCUSSION
Out of Competition Testing
Uniformity in Racing (Medication/Testing/Withdrawal Times, Licensing/Fingerprinting)
Panelists:
• Dionne M. Benson, DVM, Executive Director, Racing Medication and Testing Consortium
• Clara Fenger, DVM, PhD, DACVIM
• Alan Foreman, Esq., Chairman/CEO, Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association
• Ed Martin, President, Racing Commissioners Int.
Moderator – Sal DiMario, Executive Director, Delaware SOA, Vice President, HHI
On Tuesday (Feb. 28), the Racing Committees (Driver/Trainer, Fairs, Pari-Mutuel and Regulatory) will conduct a joint meeting at 9 a.m. (PST) followed by the Finance Committee at 11 a.m.
After the annual USTA Recognition and President’s Awards Luncheon, the Rules Committee will meet at 2 p.m.
The 2017 Annual Meeting will conclude with a second General Session scheduled for 3:30 p.m. that will feature an address from the new USTA president, remarks from Executive Vice President Mike Tanner, proclamations and recognition of former USTA directors and committee reports.
(Schedule subject to change)
- USTA board convenes with Communications/Marketing Committee (Sunday, February 26, 2017)
The future of the USTA marketing efforts in social media, wagering, and racehorse ownership was the focus of the Communications/Marketing Committee on the first day of the USTA Board of Directors annual meeting Sunday (Feb. 26) at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino.
- Russell Williams elected USTA president (Monday, February 27, 2017)
Russell Williams was elected president of the USTA by a vote of Association directors during the first general session of the USTA board of directors annual meeting Monday (Feb. 27) at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino. Williams, who represents District 7 as a membership director and most recently served as the Association’s vice chairman, was elected by a majority vote over four other candidates through two rounds of balloting of the 54 USTA directors in attendance.
- Online Services expansion highlights Registration Committee meeting (Monday, February 27, 2017)
The USTA staff’s rollout of the online foal registration program highlighted the Registration Committee meeting of the USTA Board of Directors annual meeting Monday (Feb. 27) at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino. T.C. Lane, USTA director of registry and member services, told the board that since its launch on Dec. 6, 2016, 286 foals from the 2016 crop were registered online from an estimated 500 foals yet to be registered from the total foal crop.