Yonkers, NY — On Friday (Nov. 29), Chairperson Joe Faraldo and Directors Joe Frasure and Edison Hatter hosted the annual USTA District 8A meeting via Zoom.
The meeting included a discussion of and voting on the 41 rule and bylaw change proposals for 2025.
Following are the voting results of the 2025 proposals from the District 8A members in attendance:
- Corresponding Officer/Ownership Percentages — REJECTED
- Head Numbers Return — REJECTED
- Minimum Requirements to Warm Up Horses — APPROVED WITH AMMENDMENT TO DELETE MENTAL/PHYSICAL etc.
- Judges Report Incident Details to USTA — APPROVED
- Mandatory Win Photo Purse Deduction — REJECTED
- Minimum Time Between Races for 2-Year-Olds — APPROVED WITH AMMENDMENT TO ADD: PURSE STARTS DAILY
- Cap on Number of Starts for Older Horses — REJECTED
- Q/F Drivers Must Race Both Gaits — REJECTED
- Judges’ Discretion/Race for Purse Money Only — TABLED
- Sulky Performance Standards — APPROVED
- No Gray/White Outrider Horses — REJECTED
- Saddle Pads Not Counted as Equipment — REJECTED
- Restrictions on Shock Wave Therapy — APPROVED
- Testing Where USTA Has Authority — APPROVED
- Owner/Trainer Present During Sample Collection — APPROVED
- HRMC Screening Thresholds — APPROVED
- Absolute Insurer — APPROVED
- Cap of 160 Mares for Stallions — APPROVED
- Prohibit OPU/ICSI Sperm Injection Procedures — TABLED
- Electronic Voting for Rule Change Proposals — REJECTED
- Widen Window for District Meeting Scheduling — REJECTED
- Director Elections Not Tied to District Meetings — APPROVED WITH AMMENDMENT TO ADD: MANDATING RCP DISCUSSIONS TO BE CONDUCTED AS REQUIRED BUSINESS
- Incumbents Declinations Due in July, Not September — APPROVED
- Elections Due to Vacancies Not Tied to District Meetings — APPROVED
- District 2 and 2A Realignment of Directors — APPROVED
- USTA Officers Must Be Directors — REJECTED
- Denial of Membership — APPROVED
- Violations — APPROVED
- Person Not in Good Standing — APPROVED
- Failure to Report Fraudulent Proposal — APPROVED
- Conspiracy to Commit Violations of Rules — APPROVED
- Aiding of Abetting Violation of Rules — APPROVED
- Prohibition Against Individuals Not in Good Standing — APPROVED
- Trainer of Horse for Disbarred Person — APPROVED
- False Ownership — APPROVED
- False Trainer of Record — APPROVED
- Effect of Penalty on Horse — APPROVED
- Participation by Person Not in Good Standing — APPROVED
- Fraudulent Transfer — APPROVED
- Failure to Submit Information — APPROVED
- Location of Hearing — APPROVED
Joe Faraldo was re-elected as chairperson.
The meeting commenced at 6 p.m. (EDT) and was adjourned at 8:08 p.m.