Sacramento, CA — Members from the United States Trotting Association District 3 met in conjunction with the California Harness Horsemen’s Association meeting on Sunday (Jan. 26) at Cal Expo in Sacramento, Calif., to discuss proposed USTA rule changes and to make recommendations that will be conveyed at the USTA’s annual board of directors meeting in March.

District 3 chairman Ivan Axelrod presided over the meeting. USTA/Michael Carter photo.

At the California Harness Horsemen’s Association meeting, Dante Jay (Dante Hanover-Talvez), the only California bred to win the American Classic, was honored with induction to the California Harness Racing Hall of Fame. Dante Jay was an earner of $306,160 in his career with 47 wins in 150 starts.

USTA District 3 directors in attendance were Ivan Axelrod (chairman), Ben Kenney, and David Siegel.

Other notables in the room included Cal Expo director of racing Christopher Schick; Cal Expo track announcer and Hall of Farmer Gary Seibel; USTA social media and publicity coordinators Michael Carter and Wendy Ross; USTA ID tech Bill Vallandingham; and president of the Nevada Standardbred Association Tim Bohannon.

District members reviewed 23 rule book changes for 2020, approving 11, rejecting nine, and tabling three (view the complete list of rule change proposals here). A complete summary of the District 3 voting is as follows:

Proposal #1 (Elimination of heat racing) – ACCEPTED
Proposal #2 (Extended pari-mutuel meets) – ACCEPTED
Proposal #3 (Prohibit gene doping) – ACCEPTED
Proposal #4 (Pylon requirements) – REJECTED
Proposal #5 (Extended saddle pads) – REJECTED
Proposal #6 (Racetrack maintenance) – TABLED
Proposal #7 (Jail period for claimed horses) – REJECTED
Proposal #8 (Interfered horses purse money) – REJECTED
Proposal #9 (Weighted post position draw) – REJECTED
Proposal #10 (Distinguishable starting point) – REJECTED
Proposal #11 (Post-July 1 qualifiers) – ACCEPTED
Proposal #12 (Standards for fair start pole) – ACCEPTED
Proposal #13 (Amateur driver eligibility) – TABLED
Proposal #14 (Amateur driver eligibility) – TABLED
Proposal #15 (Trainer’s license minimums) – REJECTED
Proposal #16 (Driving colors – “P” license) – ACCEPTED
Proposal #17 (Whip regulations) – ACCEPTED
Proposal #18 (Sex change reporting requirement) – ACCEPTED
Proposal #19 (Remeasure track circumferences) – ACCEPTED as AMENDED
Proposal #20 (Recording ownership percentage) – REJECTED
Proposal #21 (Multiple embryo transfers/year) – REJECTED
Proposal #22 (Definition of Standardbred) – ACCEPTED
Proposal #23 (Non-Standardbred definition) – ACCEPTED