by John Pawlak, the U.S. Trotting Association

Saratoga Springs, NY — Michael D. Kane was elected to the U.S. Trotting Association Board of Directors by the tracks in District 8 — upstate New York — at the District’s annual membership meeting, conducted on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 14) at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway.

USTA photo

Michael Kane

Kane, vice president of racing and gaming for the Western Region Off-Track Betting Corporation, which operates Batavia Downs Casino, will replace George “Skip” Carlson, who serves as the vice president for external affairs at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway. Kane has been with WROTB for 12-1/2 years, including all the time the firm has operated Batavia.

Kane will officially become a member of the USTA Board when it convenes its annual meeting this coming March in Columbus, Ohio.

In addition to the election, USTA members heard a discussion of various changes proposed to the Association’s rules and by-laws, and heard a report on USTA acitivites — both projects completed in 2010 and about to be undertaken in 2011.