Columbus, OH — Members from the United States Trotting Association District 1 met on Saturday (Jan. 18) at the Airport Marriott hotel in Columbus, OH, to discuss proposed USTA rule changes and to make recommendations that will be conveyed at the USTA’s annual board of directors meeting, which will be held in March. Dr. John Mossbarger was elected chairman of the district.
The meeting preceded the district’s annual awards dinner, which we be held later in the evening.
District directors in attendance were Steve Bateson, Jason Bluhm, Kevin Greenfield, Dr. John Mossbarger and Jason Roth. USTA COO TC Lane provided rules context and clarification during the meeting as well as answered many questions and provided brief updates on the various USTA activities and initiatives.
District members reviewed rulebook and bylaw changes proposed for 2024, approving 29 and rejecting 12. The proposed rule changes for 2024/2025 may be found here.
A complete summary of the district 1 voting is as follows and issued the following recommendations:
- Corresponding Officer/Ownership Percentages — NO
- Head Numbers Return — NO
- Minimum Requirements to Warm Up Horses — YES
- Judges Report Incident Details to USTA — YES
- Mandatory Win Photo Purse Deduction — NO
- Minimum Time Between Races for 2-Year-Olds — YES with amendment to 1 day for 2- and 3-year-olds.
- Cap on Number of Starts for Older Horses — NO
- Q/F Drivers Must Race Both Gaits — NO
- Judges’ Discretion/Race for Purse Money Only — NO
- Sulky Performance Standards — YES
- No Gray/White Outrider Horses — NO
- Saddle Pads Not Counted as Equipment —NO
- Restrictions on Shock Wave Therapy — YES
- Testing Where USTA Has Authority — YES
- Owner/Trainer Present During Sample Collection — YES
- HRMC Screening Thresholds — YES
- Absolute Insurer — YES
- First Year Stallion – Cap of 160 Mares — NO
- Prohibit OPU/ICSI Sperm Injection Procedures — NO
- Electronic Voting for Rule Change Proposals — NO
- Widen Window for District Meeting Scheduling — NO
- Director Elections Not Tied to District Meetings — YES
- Incumbents Declinations Due in July, Not September — YES
- Elections Due to Vacancies Not Tied to District Meetings — YES
- District 2 and 2A Realignment of Directors — YES
- USTA Officers Must Be Directors — YES
- Denial of Membership — YES
- Violations — YES
- Person Not in Good Standing — YES
- Failure to Report Fraudulent Proposal — YES
- Conspiracy to Commit Violations of Rules — YES
- Aiding of Abetting Violation of Rules — YES
- Prohibition Against Individuals Not in Good Standing — YES
- Trainer of Horse for Disbarred Person — YES
- False Ownership — YES
- False Trainer of Record — YES
- Effect of Penalty on Horse — YES
- Participation by Person Not in Good Standing — YES
- Fraudulent Transfer — YES
- Failure to Submit Information — YES
- Location of Hearing — YES