by Michael Carter, for Post Time with Mike and Mike

Elkton, MD — The first ever USTA Presidential Debate will take place this Thursday (Feb. 16) at 7:30 p.m. (EST). It can be heard live at www.posttimewithmikeandmike.com or on-demand on the Bet America Radio Network at www.betamerica.com/barn.

For more information, and a message from the moderators, visit the following link.

About the moderators

Mike Bozich has been in the industry since 2004, when he was hired as the track announcer at Hazel Park Raceway in Detroit, Mich. He was promoted to assistant director of racetrack operations by longtime USTA District 2 Director Ken Marshall, who passed away in early November. After brief stints at Cal-Expo and Ocean Downs, Bozich is now going on his fourth season as the track announcer at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Mike Carter got his start in harness racing at the Shenandoah County Fair in Virginia. From there, Carter went on to be the track announcer at Buffalo Raceway. He was also a mutuel manager at the Hamburg oval. Carter is now a part of the management team at Northfield Park, where he also serves as back-up announcer to Ayers Ratliff.

Debate particulars

The USTA presidential race consists of five candidates — Russell Williams, Joe Pennacchio, Freddie Hudson, Ryan Macedonio and Jason Settlemoir. Each candidate will have up to two minutes for opening and closing statements, with four topics and questions relating to those topics. The topics are: the state of harness racing, the function of the USTA, rules and regulations, and marketing and promotion. The questions were gathered from USTA directors, horsemen and women, and fans of the sport.

The order in which the candidates will answer was determined by a blind draw.

Each candidate will have one and a half minutes to answer the question. If they invoke another candidate’s name, or refer to a candidate in any other fashion, they will be allowed a 45 second rebuttal. Time limits will be closely monitored to assure each candidate gets equal time.