Anderson, IN — USTA District 2A and 2B — Michigan and Indiana — held their annual meeting on Saturday (Oct. 27) at Hoosier Park.

The meeting was chaired by Jay Cross, membership director from Indiana. Cross was joined by fellow directors Sam Hedington, Indiana; Mike Sweeney, Michigan; Scott Peine, District 2 track director; and District 2 members. Michigan directors Marilyn Breuer-Bertera and Steve Oldford joined the meeting by teleconference.

Attendees were presented a brief 2018 USTA Activities Review handout, and discussed topics specific to their district.

The 2019 rule change proposals were considered in preparation for the annual Board of Directors meeting next March. The complete text of the 26 rule change proposals may be viewed here.

A summary of the voting on Rule Change Proposals at the District 2 meeting is as follows:

Proposal #1 (Racing terminology and definitions) Rejected
Proposal #2 (Paddock rules) Accepted
Proposal #3 (Horses entering track) Rejected
Proposal #4 (Pari-mutuel, non-extended meet wins) Rejected
Proposal #5 (Persons eligible to claim) Rejected
Proposal #6 (Non-extended meet trailers) Accepted
Proposal #7 (Purse distribution for DQ’d horse) Rejected
Proposal #8 (Secure entry process) Accepted
Proposal #9 (Electronic display of entry) Accepted
Proposal #10 (Outside/inside post draws) Rejected
Proposal #11 (Come to gate no nearer than ¼-mile prior) Rejected
Proposal #12 (Speed of gate) Accepted
Proposal #13 (No charging of gate) Accepted
Proposal #14 (Penalties for violation of starting rule) Accepted
Proposal #15 (Deletion of “Holding Horses Before Start”) Accepted
Proposal #16 (Single trailer – second tier) Rejected
Proposal #17 (Definition of amateur driver) Tabled
Proposal #18 (“P” drivers for amateur races only) Tabled
Proposal #19 (Distance of lead horse from pylons) Accepted
Proposal #20 (Black whips) Rejected
Proposal #21 (Extended break placings) Accepted
Proposal #22 (Mud aprons) Rejected
Proposal #23 (Total number of mares bred) Rejected
Proposal #24 (Deadline for lists of mares bred) Accepted
Proposal #25 (Restriction on reuse of names) Rejected
Proposal #26 (License trainers/active USTA membership) Accepted