Lexington, KY — Joe Pennacchio, the USTA District 6 chairman, was joined by fellow directors Cara Collins (via Zoom), Dr. Andy Roberts, and Dein Spriggs in meeting with constituents Saturday (Oct. 5) morning at the Red Mile for their district’s annual meeting.
The 90-minute session featured a wide-ranging discussion of industry topics, particularly those connected to the 41 rule change proposals that were considered by the group. Rule change proposals may be viewed via this link.
A contingent from Diamond Creek Farm was active in providing valuable commentary and context, with USTA CEO Mike Tanner serving as moderator. Participating remotely were USTA COO TC Lane and Michele Kopiec, the Association’s corporate secretary.
The compendium of rule change proposals was ambitious in both its number and scope. Issues ranged from election issues to integrity matters to whether gray equines should be permitted to work as outrider horses. In the end, the district approved 32 proposals, rejecting seven and tabling two for further discussion. A suite of proposals (numbers 27-41, inclusive) from the Standardbred Racing Investigative Fund (SRIF) were voted upon and accepted as a group. Those submissions pertain to standards of conduct and would enhance the Association’s latitude in adjudicating membership and participation decisions.
Pennacchio was re-elected to another one-year term as district chairman.
The district voting was as follows.
- 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 — YES
- 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 — TABLED
- 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 — TABLED
- 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
*Referred to Rules Committee for Additional Review