The USTA Executive Committee’s unique composition helps it efficiently address critical issues
When I started in my position at the USTA nearly 18 years ago, I was struck by the size of the association’s Board of Directors. At the time, it numbered 60, which mirrored exactly the number of full-time employees on staff at the time. Both groups have shrunk since then — especially the latter — but, at the end of this year, the USTA board still will be comprised of 58 directors, an unusually large quantity for an organization of the USTA’s size. Back in 2008, my most immediate thought was this: How will anything get done?
The USTA bylaws contain the answer to this question while specifying the mechanism of action: the creation and implementation of an executive committee.
Companies have executive committees to provide strategic and operational oversight, make timely decisions on urgent matters, coordinate the board of directors, and ensure efficient implementation of board policies and strategic goals. By delegating these key responsibilities to a smaller, expert group, organizations can maintain smooth day-to-day operations and respond quickly to issues without waiting for a full board meeting. And that happens at the USTA, where the full Board of Directors gathers just once per year at the annual in-person meeting that takes place each March, almost always in Columbus, Ohio.
It is no secret that horsepeople and track management do not always see things the same way, but under the bylaws, both constituencies are guaranteed representation on the Executive Committee.
– Mike Tanner
It is USTA president Russell Williams’ prerogative to select most of the members of the Executive Committee — you will see why in a moment — but Section 9.01 of the USTA bylaws defines the committee’s composition, dictating that:
The executive committee of the full board for directors shall consist of:
- The president.
- The chairperson of the board.
- The vice chairperson of the board.
- The treasurer.
- One director from each of the district boards, who shall be appointed by the president at the annual meeting of the full board of directors.
Seems simple, right? Ah, but there is more.
- Four of those so appointed shall be pari-mutuel directors.
So while four of the Executive Committee’s slots — president, chairperson, vice chairperson, and treasurer — are automatically granted upon election to those positions, the remaining 12 are presidentially appointed and must be composed proportionately of eight membership directors and four track directors. This encourages a more equitable representation of viewpoints while also respecting the fact that the association is comprised primarily of horsepeople. You might think of the Executive Committee as the President’s cabinet, albeit one that is the spawn of an interesting calculus.
At present, the Executive Committee’s “automatic” members are President Williams, Chairperson Joe Faraldo, Vice Chairperson Mark Loewe and Treasurer Jim Miller. The eight membership directors are Steve McCoy (District 1), Marilyn Breuer-Bertera (District 2), Ivan Axelrod (District 3), Gabe Wand (District 4), Sam Lilly (District 5), Joe Pennacchio (District 6), Sam Beegle (District 7) and Jeff Gregory (District 12). Track directors on the Executive Committee are John Matarazzo (District 8), Joe Frasure (District 8A), Chris McErlean (District 9) and Matt Sparacino (District 11).
So why should this matter to you and to the harness racing industry in the United States? Well, it underscores the importance of the USTA presidency while also providing a system of checks and balances that encourages the representation of various viewpoints from different constituencies. In the current administration, Williams gets to appoint a dozen Executive Committee members, but he is limited by jurisdiction (one director from each of the 12 districts) and category (eight directors elected by membership, four elected by the tracks). He can look to appoint members who are in philosophical agreement with his vision for the association, but even if he wanted to stack the deck, so to speak, he could not. It is no secret that horsepeople and track management do not always see things the same way, but under the bylaws, both constituencies are guaranteed representation on the Executive Committee.
Further, the existence of a vibrant, agile Executive Committee ensures that critical issues can be addressed in a timely manner, allowing the association’s board of directors to provide guidance and, well, direction between annual meetings. In the past two years alone, the Executive Committee has, by majority rule, approved mid-year funding for the Standardbred Racing Investigative Fund, earmarked monies to support broadcast and promotions, investigated the relationship between the association and TrackMaster before authorizing a contract extension between the two groups, and reaffirmed our commitment — both financial and otherwise — to the Standardbred Transition Alliance. It also has provided key input in the association’s legal challenge regarding the constitutionality of the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Act (HISA) and to the USTA’s lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill.
Interestingly, there is a recently introduced bylaw change proposal that, if approved, would expand the Executive Committee by six representatives. Introduced by Don Marean, the chair of District 9, the proposition would guarantee that each of the 12 districts would be represented on the Executive Committee by one membership director, with six (instead of four) track directors being similarly appointed. From Marean’s sponsor statement: “This bylaw change … would assure membership representation from each district … (and) maintains the two-to-one membership director-to-track director ratio.”
Like it? Hate it? The proposal, along with eight others, will be considered and debated at each USTA district meeting between now and February, and then decided at the Board of Directors meeting in March. Can’t make it to your district meeting? Current USTA members will have the opportunity to vote electronically on each proposal through their USTA member account through Feb. 1, 2026. Members without an online account may request a paper ballot by contacting USTA corporate secretary Michele Kopiec at michele.kopiec@ustrotting.com. Voting results will be shared publicly by the USTA and will also be submitted to the full Board of Directors at the annual meeting.
Let us know what you think. I hope that you will exercise your right to vote.
This column appears in the November 2025 issue of Hoof Beats, the official magazine of the USTA. To learn more, or to become a subscriber to harness racing’s premier monthly publication, click here.