Harrington, DE — Led by district chairman Matt Sparacino, who was re-elected to a one-year term, directors and members from USTA District 11 (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia) assembled Thursday (Oct. 23) at Harrington Raceway to discuss industry matters and vote upon a full slate of USTA rule change proposals in an engaging session that lasted 90 minutes.
The group affirmed 31 of 41 USTA rule change submissions while rejecting nine and referring one for additional discussion at the Association’s annual board of directors meeting in March.
Sparacino was joined by fellow directors Dan Bittle, Corey Callahan, and (by phone) Dr. Scott Woogen.
Among others in attendance were Jim Boese, Chief Operating Officer of Harrington Raceway and Casino; Bob Schiewe, Administrator of Racing for the Delaware Harness Racing Commission; Andy Markano, President of the Delaware Standardbred Owners Association, and John Hensley, the DSOA’s executive director. Mike Tanner, USTA chief executive officer, was also on hand.
Proposals pertaining to racing integrity and testing received careful attention and notable discussion. Blocks of rules put forth by USTA chairman Joe Faraldo (proposals 14 through 17) and the Standardbred Racing Investigative Fund (SRIF) were accepted without objection.
The district votes are reflected below:
- 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
- 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 — TABLED
- 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 — YES
- Electronic Voting for Rule Change Proposals — YES
- Widen Window for District Meeting Scheduling — YES
- 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