Columbus, OH — Members from the United States Trotting Association District 1 met on Saturday (Jan. 13) at the Marriott Columbus OSU hotel in Columbus, Ohio, 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.

The meeting preceded the district’s annual awards dinner, held later that evening.

USTA District 1 directors (left to right) Steve Bateson, Jason Roth, Kevin Greenfield, Dr. John Mossbarger, and chairman Skip Hoovler at the Jan. 13 meeting. USTA photo.

District directors in attendance were Skip Hoovler (chairman), Steve Bateson, 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 32 rulebook and bylaw changes proposed for 2024, approving 15 and rejecting 17. The proposed rule changes for 2024 may be found here.

A complete summary of the District 1 voting is as follows and the district issued the following recommendations:

Proposal #1 – Purse distribution for no contest races: ACCEPTED
Proposal #2 – Corresponding officer designation and ownership percentages: REJECTED
Proposal #3 – Define “ambulance” and the requirement of an ambulance when racing: REJECTED
Proposal #4 – Expand definition of accident warning lights: ACCEPTED
Proposal #5 – Require a chain-link fence in front of the grandstand at county fairs: REJECTED
Proposal #6 – Require driving line buckles be taped with black tape: ACCEPTED
Proposal #7 – Expand duties of the judges to include the use of warning lights and siren: ACCEPTED
Proposal #8 – Postponement/cancellation of races in extreme weather: REJECTED
Proposal #9 – Expand procedure of the judges to explain the use of warning lights and siren: ACCEPTED
Proposal #10 – Increase the number of names on the electronic eligibility from four to an unlimited number: REJECTED
Proposal #11 – Increase the number of names on the electronic eligibility from four to six: REJECTED
Proposal #12 – No horse 15 or older is eligible to perform in any race: REJECTED
Proposal #13 – Only one tier of starters at county fair tracks with judge’s discretion: REJECTED
Proposal #14 – Splitting of horses in multiple divisions: ACCEPTED
Proposal #15 – Publicly publish draw results: REJECTED
Proposal #16 – Require a driver to drive horse on which he/she is listed: REJECTED
Proposal #17 – Penalty for restart: REJECTED
Proposal #18 – Penalty for causing a race to be delayed: REJECTED
Proposal #19 – Remove “before dismounting” as a requirement in a driver filing an objection: REJECTED
Proposal #20 – Horses must race within 30 minutes of assigned Lasix window: REJECTED
Proposal #21 – Five-year warranty to be provided by a sulky manufacturer and/or USTA: REJECTED
Proposal #22 – Require change of company ownership and modification of approved sulky to be reported to USTA: ACCEPTED
Proposal #23 – Combine Coggins test rules to remove repetitive language: ACCEPTED
Proposal #24 – Require tracks to record and keep on file Coggins test results and vaccine documentation: ACCEPTED
Proposal #25 – Change naming requirements for the registration of horses: REJECTED
Proposal #26 – Bylaw change to handle board voting electronically: REJECTED
Proposal #27 – Bylaw change to increase terms of chair, vice-chair, secretary, and treasurer to two years: ACCEPTED
Proposal #28 – Bylaw change to add text regarding abuse and harassment: ACCEPTED
Proposal #29 – Clarify definition of beneficial owner: ACCEPTED
Proposal #30 – Remove references to require tattoo and/or freeze brand to race: ACCEPTED
Proposal #31 – Remove reference to blood typing and dollar amount to submission of list of mares bred: ACCEPTED
Proposal #32 – Remove references to blood tying and repetitive language for parentage verification: ACCEPTED

The remaining districts will meet over the next month to discuss specific district topics and to vote on the proposals. The results of each district’s vote will be presented to the entire USTA Board of Directors at the annual meeting in March 2024. The full schedule of district meetings, as well as meeting details and recaps, may be found here.