Yonkers, NY — An even dozen USTA District 8A members attended the annual district meeting held on the afternoon of Saturday (Dec. 22) at a darkened Yonkers Raceway.

Membership directors in attendance were Joseph A. Faraldo, Jordan Stratton and Michael P. Kimelman. Excused were track directors Timothy Rooney Jr. and newly-elected Robert C. “Cammie” Haughton, who replaces longtime track director and Yonkers Raceway GM Bob Galterio.

Joseph A. Faraldo, unopposed in re-election as a membership director, was re-elected Chairman of the District.

Discussion at the meeting focused on the possibility of implementing online voting for future rule change proposals. Also discussed was the work of the Harness Racing Medication Collaborative initiative of the USTA, which seeks to establish uniform rules applicable to harness racing only, so as to suit our racing model and avoid difficulties in this realm posed by the Thoroughbred-centric Racing Medication & Testing Consortium (RMTC) and Racing Commissioners International (RCI).

The following are the recommendations of the District regarding rule change proposals (to read the full rule change proposals, click here).

Proposal #1 (Racing terminology and definitions): Rejected
Proposal #2 (Paddock rules): Accepted
Proposal #3 (Horses entering track): Rejected
Proposal #4 (Pari-mutuel, non-extended meet wins): Rejected
Proposal #5 (Persons eligible to claim): Accepted
Proposal #6 (Non-extended meet trailers): Tabled (for reference to Fair Committee)
Proposal #7 (Purse distribution for DQ’d horse): Rejected
Proposal #8 (Secure entry process): Rejected
Proposal #9 (Electronic display of entry): Rejected
Proposal #10 (Outside/inside post draws): Rejected
Proposal #11 (Come to gate no nearer than 1/4-mile prior): Rejected
Proposal #12 (Speed of gate): Rejected
Proposal #13 (No charging of gate): Rejected (judges’ job)
Proposal #14 (Penalties for violation of starting rule): Accepted
Proposal #15 (Deletion of “Holding Horses Before Start”): Accepted
Proposal #16 (Single trailer – second tier): Accepted
Proposal #17 (Definition of amateur driver): Accepted
Proposal #18 (“P” drivers for amateur races only): Rejected
Proposal #19 (Distace of lead horse from pylons): Rejected
Proposal #20 (Black whips): Accepted
Proposal #21 (Extended break placings): Tabled (to get explanation from sponsor)
Proposal #22 (Mud aprons): Rejected
Proposal #23 (Total number of mares bred): Tabled (referred to Registration Committee)
Proposal #24 (Deadline for lists of mares bred): Rejected
Proposal #25 (Restriction on reuse of names): Rejected
Proposal #26 (License trainers/active USTA membership): Accepted