USTA and Cheval Francais sign historic breeding agreement
January 25, 2014,by Joseph Faraldo, chairman and director, USTA District 8-A
Paris, France — Officers of Cheval Francais and directors of the United States Trotting Association convened Saturday (Jan. 25) at Vincennes Racetrack in Paris to sign a historic breeding agreement.
Rebekah Mae Photography
The President of Cheval Francais, Dominique de Bellaigue (left), and Joseph Faraldo, chairman and director, USTA District 8-A, signed the agreement.
Delegations from Slovenia and the Irish Harness Racing Club inked similar agreements with Cheval Francais.
The President of Cheval Francais, Dominique de Bellaigue, said, “These agreements will help our respective countries build upon this as a foundation to the expansion of international simulcasting.”
With the addition of these three countries, there are now 25 countries that have similar agreements with the Pari Mutuel Urbain, the French state controlled betting system.
This agreement will pave the way for Yonkers to simulcast its races to France starting in the fall of 2014 and will open up the market for the export of American high quality trotting races to the European continent.
According to Yonkers Raceway President Tim Rooney, who was present for the signing, global simulcasting is vital to the future growth of our sport.
- SOA of NY, Yonkers’ Rooneys lead delegation to France to sign historic agreement (Tuesday, January 21, 2014)
United States Trotting Association Directors Joe Faraldo, who is also president and CEO of the Standardbred Owners of New York and former chairman of the board of the USTA, and Alex Dadoyan, the current executive Director of SOA of NY and a USTA Executive Committee member, along with Yonkers Raceway President Tim Rooney, Sr. and his son, USTA Director Tim Rooney, Jr., the track’s general counsel, will lead a delegation of U.S. industry representatives to Paris, France this week to negotiate the final details of a breeding, wagering and simulcasting agreement between the USTA and French racing officials.