Columbus, OH – Per the change to Rule 17.07(d) that was approved by the USTA Board of Directors at the 2020 annual meeting, effective January 1, 2021 all new trainer applicants will be subject to the following:

“An applicant for a new general trainer’s license must be a member of the USTA for at least one full year and show evidence that he or she has been licensed as a groom or trainer by a state racing commission for at least three consecutive years.  New applicants without such experience will be issued a limited license, which must be held for a period of not less than 12 months with no rule violations prior for consideration for an upgrade to a general trainer’s license.”

As a reminder, a limited trainer’s license is one that restricts the holder to train horses he or she owns wholly, to be programmed as trainer on those horses at USTA member tracks.

The new rule will not apply to any member who has already applied for a trainer’s license or to one who applies prior to January 1, 2021.

New applicants who are current members are urged to apply online using their USTA account.  A tutorial is available outlining the process.

For questions regarding the change or for more information on licensing, please contact Michele Kopiec at michele.kopiec@ustrotting.com.