by Jerry Connors

Harrisburg, PA — The United States Trotting Association’s annual meeting for District 7, Pennsylvania, will be held at the Bedford Springs Omni Hotel and Resort in Bedford, Pa., on Saturday (Jan. 23) with post time for the meeting in the southwest Pennsylvania town at 3 p.m.

USTA District 7 Directors Sam Beegle (district chairman), Barry Brown, Walter “Boots” Dunn, and Russell Williams will be joined by USTA President and Harness Hall of Famer Phil Langley at the district’s annual meeting. USTA Executive Vice President Mike Tanner may attend if his busy travel scheduled permits.

They will review the proposed USTA rule changes (those wishing to “study in advance” can find the proposed changes at this link and they will also report on USTA activities over the past year. Feedback from those on hand will guide the District 7 directors when they attend the annual USTA Board of Directors meeting in Columbus, Ohio, from Feb. 27-29.

Shortly after the USTA meeting, the annual banquet highlighting the best and brightest of the 2015 harness racing fair season in Pennsylvania will get underway, with a cash bar opening at 5 p.m. and dinner to served at 6 p.m. The meal will be followed by the annual awards, which will honor both the leading point-winning horses during the 20-stop fair circuit and also the winners of the divisional championship races held on the $200,000 Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes championship night, which took place this past Oct. 10 at The Meadows.

Tickets for the dinner are priced at $35 and the insiders know they are among the best investments anywhere in harness racing, due to the extreme generosity of area harness suppliers in donating door prizes year after year.

Tickets may be obtained from Sam Beegle; at this late date it may be better to contact Mr. Beegle about reserving tickets via e-mail at gingertree@frontiernet.net.

Inquiries about reservations at the host Bedford Springs Omni Resort (2138 U.S. 220 Business, Bedford, PA 15522) can be directed to 1.800.623.8100; be sure to note that you are attending the USTA meetings and banquet.