Columbus, OH – Three rule changes and one bylaw amendment were approved at the annual meeting of the U.S. Trotting Association’s Board of Directors, which concluded on Sunday (March 8).
A list of the approved changes—most of which will become effective May 1, 2026—can be found by clicking here.
These changes apply to venues in which the USTA is the sole regulatory authority as specified in the preface to the USTA Rulebook, “the rules…are applicable only to those non-pari-mutuel meetings over which no State Racing Commission, or other State Regulatory Body asserts primary jurisdiction.” However, it is not uncommon to see state racing commissions adopt USTA rules.
Approved rules that directly affect racing will be forwarded to the Association of Racing Commissioners International and to state racing commissions with a recommendation for adoption. They will also be shared with horsemen’s associations to assist in promoting the rules to their state regulators and encouraging implementation.
For a complete recap of the 2026 annual meeting, visit the USTA Annual Meeting page.