Columbus, OH – United States Trotting Association (USTA) President Russell Williams is providing USTA members and the Standardbred industry with information regarding the USTA’s alliance with the Standardbred Racing Investigative Fund (SRIF), in response to questions and concerns that have been raised about the relationship and the investigative process it established.
Williams said the USTA recognizes that members may have differing views regarding the Alliance and believes those discussions should be grounded in a clear understanding of how the relationship was established, how the process operates and what safeguards and oversight are in place.
“The USTA Board of Directors and its Executive Committee have, on multiple occasions, reviewed and authorized the Association’s relationship with SRIF,” Williams said. “At the same time, whenever questions or concerns arise about a process that can affect our members, it is important that we provide the facts and explain clearly how that process works.
“There has been considerable discussion about the USTA-SRIF Alliance, and I believe our members deserve the opportunity to understand the safeguards and oversight that are part of the process,” Williams continued. “We welcome questions from our members and constructive suggestions regarding the Alliance and its operation.”
The full document provides an overview of why the Alliance was established, the roles of the USTA and the Standardbred Racing Investigative Fund (SRIF), the requirements for initiating an investigation, the oversight surrounding requests for information, confidentiality provisions, the USTA’s hearing and appeal procedures, and changes made to the Alliance Agreement in 2026.
Williams emphasized that the Alliance does not replace the USTA’s existing enforcement process and that SRIF investigators do not have the authority to make the final determination of whether a USTA rule has been violated or what sanction should be imposed.
“Our responsibility is to protect the integrity of the Standardbred registry and the sport while ensuring that our members are treated fairly,” Williams said. “Those responsibilities must remain at the center of any discussion about enforcement.”
Members and industry participants are encouraged to review the full “USTA-SRIF Alliance” document for a detailed explanation of the history, purpose, safeguards and oversight associated with the Alliance.
To read the USTA-SRIF Alliance document, click here.