Medway, MA — The USTA District 9 directors held their annual district meeting on Sunday (Dec. 9) in Medway, Mass.

There were 32 present for the business meeting.

The Massachusetts Breeders and Owners Association hosted the meeting at Restaurant 45 in Medway.

Directors attending were Steve O’Toole, Fred Nichols, Dr. Tim Powers, George Ducharme and Don Marean.

The 2019 rule change proposals were considered in preparation for the annual Board of Directors meeting next March. The complete list of the District 9 votes is as follows; (to read the full rule change proposals, click here).

Proposal #1 (Racing terminology and definitions): Accepted
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): Accepted
Proposal #6 (Non-extended meet trailers): Rejected
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 1/4-mile prior): Accepted
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): Accepted
Proposal #17 (Definition of amateur driver): Accepted
Proposal #18 (“P” drivers for amateur races only): Rejected
Proposal #19 (Distace of lead horse from pylons): Accepted
Proposal #20 (Black whips): Accepted
Proposal #21 (Extended break placings): Accepted
Proposal #22 (Mud aprons): Rejected
Proposal #23 (Total number of mares bred): Accepted
Proposal #24 (Deadline for lists of mares bred): Accepted
Proposal #25 (Restriction on reuse of names): Accepted
Proposal #26 (License trainers/active USTA membership): Accepted