The USTA has served its members for more than 90 years, and that’s something we take considerable pride in each day. Some of our processes were developed long before anyone imagined a horseperson would be doing business with the USTA staring down at a smartphone while sitting on a bucket in the paddock. That’s the part we need to keep working on.
Tag: TC Lane
USTA Hosts Racing Officials Accreditation Program in Kentucky
The United States Trotting Association (USTA), with support from The Red Mile and the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation (KHRGC), hosted the Racing Officials Accreditation Program (ROAP) school Sept. 27 through Oct. 4 in Lexington, KY. The program provides education and practical training for current and aspiring harness racing officials preparing for regulatory and officiating roles at racetracks across North America.
Hoof Beats: Helping Our Horses
ver the last several years, conversations surrounding equine welfare and racing safety have increasingly moved from a general discussion to actual measurable expectations. Regulators, industry organizations, racetracks, horsepeople, veterinarians and the public are all asking similar questions: What information is being collected? What trends are being identified? And how is the racing industry using that information to improve the safety and long-term welfare of our horses?
Hoof Beats: Owning the Opportunity
Every so often, something happens outside of harness racing that quietly tells us more about ourselves than it does about the decision itself. It doesn’t come with a press release about the future of horse racing, and it isn’t framed as some referendum in front of the public on racing — but if we’re paying attention, it becomes one of the clearest signals we get.
SRIF emphasizes education as a means to prevent misconduct in harness racing
Since its creation six years ago, the Standardbred Racing Investigative Fund has worked on behalf of the U.S. Trotting Association to investigate allegations of wrongdoing within the harness racing industry. And while uncovering misconduct is SRIF’s focus, education also plays a valuable role in supporting SRIF and the USTA’s joint goal of promoting integrity within the sport.
Hoof Beats: Perspective, Progress and Participation
aving turned the calendar to 2026, it feels like an appropriate moment to take a breath, look back at where we’ve been, and talk honestly about where we’re headed. To begin with, in racing, we know skepticism comes with the territory. We question initiatives. We question new ideas. Sometimes, we even question the intent.
Hoof Beats: Refund Culture
For an industry that prides itself on tradition, have we gotten too soft? Are we protecting the intended?
Hoof Beats: Genes in Motion
Standardbred racing has always been driven by performance — both on the track and in the breeding shed. But as the sport evolves and public scrutiny intensifies at a swift pace, we are learning that genetics matter — not just for speed, but also for sustainability, welfare and perception.