Columbus, OH – Sal DiMario, the recently retired executive director of the Delaware Standardbred Owners Association, has unseated the incumbent, David Siegel, in the USTA District 3 membership director election, it was announced Wednesday (Dec. 20).

Sal DiMario has been elected USTA director in District 3. Photo courtesy of PostTime Show.

The final vote tally was 55-32 as certified by the accounting firm of Plante Moran. DiMario will be introduced and formally seated at the USTA Board of Directors meeting to be held March 8-10, 2024 in Columbus, OH.

DiMario stepped down from his post at the DSOA in October after 27 years and is in the process of moving to Utah. His campaign platform highlighted his opposition to the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Act, the constitutionality of which is being challenged in the courts by the USTA and numerous other horsemen’s and governmental entities.

Siegel, the retired president/CEO of TrackMaster and a former driver with more than 500 wins to his credit, represented Cal Expo as a track director from 2010-2013, then was re-elected as a member director in 2018, serving two additional three-year terms.

“It was a race with two very qualified candidates,” said USTA CEO Mike Tanner. “Sal is an attorney and a horsemen’s advocate who also sees the big picture. He will do well on behalf of the District 3 members. David has been an active board member, a pragmatist who nonetheless was always looking for ways to creatively promote the industry and make it more accessible. The staff and I have really enjoyed working with him.”

Voter turnout was 30.3%. District 3 has 287 members, and encompasses the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Hawaii and Alaska.