Columbus, OH – The third and final day of the 2024 U.S. Trotting Association Board of Directors Annual Meeting began at 9 a.m. on Sunday (March 10).

USTA President Russell Williams at the podium told the directors “the this was the best annual meeting ever,” while Chairperson Joe Faraldo announced that the 2025 meeting will again be at the Hilton Columbus at Easton from March 7-9. Mark Hall / USTA photo.

USTA Financial Officer Dennis Fisher asked if there were any questions concerning the 2023 audited statements that were included in the packets and presented at Saturday’s (March 9) general session; there were none.

The 2024 budget was reviewed page by page, noting the significant changes that were made since the approved budget from the November 2023 meeting.

Through a request from the Racing Committee, $10,000 was added to the “Fairs – Matching Grants” budget.

The main discussion was based around the Broadcast/TV funding and the allocations that were made from the $125,000 approved budget from the November meetings. After a great deal of discussion, a motion was made to add $75,000 to this line item broken down into two amounts, $50,000 for additional consideration for those that had already submitted a request, and $25,000 available for any new organizations that did not submit a request by the original March 1 deadline.  This motion passed.

The Rules Committee was the final committee meeting of the weekend.

The 32 rule and bylaw change proposals for 2024 were presented to the respective committees. The committees considered and acted upon the proposals as follows:

1. Racing – Accepted, effective 1/1/25
Rules – Accepted, effective 1/1/25

2. Racing – Rejected
Registration – Rejected
Rules – Rejected

3. Racing – Accepted as amended
Rules – Accepted as amended

4. Racing – Accepted as amended
Rules – Accepted as amended

5. Racing – Rejected
Rules – Rejected

6. Racing –  Accepted as amended
Rules – Accepted as amended

7. Racing – Accepted
Rules – Accepted

8. Racing –  Rejected
Rules – Rejected

9. Racing –  Accepted as amended
Rules – Accepted as amended

10. Racing – Rejected
Registration – Rejected
Rules – Rejected

11. Racing – Tabled
Registration – Tabled
Rules – Tabled

12. Racing – Rejected
Rules – Rejected

13. Racing – Rejected
Rules – Rejected

14. Racing – Accepted
Rules – Accepted

15. Racing – Rejected
Rules – Rejected

16. Racing – Rejected
Rules – Rejected

17. Racing – Rejected
Rules – Rejected

18. Racing – Rejected
Rules – Rejected

19. Racing – Accepted
Rules – Accepted

20. Racing – Rejected
Rules – Rejected

21. Racing – Rejected
Rules – Rejected

22. Racing – Accepted
Rules – Accepted

23. Racing – Accepted as amended
Rules – Accepted as amended

24. Racing – Rejected
Rules – Rejected

25. Registration – Rejected
Rules – Rejected

26. Racing – Rejected
Rules – Rejected

27. Approved in opening general session

28. Racing – Accepted
Rules – Accepted

29. Registration – Accepted
Rules – Accepted

30. Racing – Accepted
Registration – Accepted
Rules – Accepted

31. Registration – Accepted
Rules – Accepted

32. Registration – Accepted
Rules – Accepted

The 2024 annual meeting concluded with the general closing session where the the Racing, Registration, Finance, and Rules Committee reports as well as the 2024 budget were approved.

In what has become an annual tradition, USTA President Russell Williams told the directors in his closing remarks, “that this was the best annual meeting ever.”

Before adjourning the meeting, Chairperson Joe Faraldo announced that next year’s annual meeting will be in the same location, the Hilton Columbus at Easton, on March 7-9, 2025.