Columbus, OH – During the U.S. Trotting Association Registration Committee teleconference call on Tuesday (March 31), the members voted unanimously to extend the deadline for all horses to be microchipped from 2021 until 2022.  The extended deadline will now require all horses to be microchipped before they race in 2022.

The deadline for microchipping horses has been extended by a year to 2022. USTA/Mark Hall photo.

The consideration of delaying the deadline was presented as an agenda item by Chief Operating Officer and Director of Registry T.C. Lane.

“With the challenges facing everyone in the harness racing industry as we all endure the real-life difficulties and the economic hardships presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the USTA and the committee felt that it was far more important for our horsemen to utilize financial resources to care for themselves, their families, employees and horses,” said USTA President Russell Williams.  “We’re all in this together and the USTA will help in every way possible.”

On March 16, the USTA had announced the suspension of ID technicians’ visits to perform microchipping from that date until March 30 due to the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the risks of being infected by and spreading the virus.

Further information on the resumption of the USTA’s ID technician microchipping services will be announced at a future time when circumstances permit.  The deadline extension does not alter the existing regulation requiring all foals of 2019 and after to be microchipped.

The Registration Committee meeting was held by conference call due to the cancellation of the USTA Board of Directors’ annual meeting originally scheduled to be held in Columbus, OH from March 13-16.