Columbus, OH — The United States Trotting Association’s Board of Directors met Monday (Oct. 28) to address matters related to an investigation conducted by the Standardbred Racing Investigative Fund (SRIF).
The investigation was overseen by Vicki Humphreys, Founder and President of HML Group, which serves as the lead investigator for SRIF, and Carson Morris, an attorney with the law firm Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads, who serves as SRIF’s counsel. SRIF is presently engaged in numerous investigations of suspected misconduct in the Standardbred industry on behalf of the USTA.
The USTA is the keeper of the Standardbred registry. As such, the Association is responsible for the data upon which the foundation of the Standardbred economy is built. Maintaining the integrity of this information is integral to the ongoing viability of the Standardbred economy, from which all USTA members benefit.
During today’s Board meeting, USTA President Russell Williams emphasized that in carrying out its oversight role, the USTA must investigate and, when warranted, take action against USTA members involved in the false and fraudulent ownership of registered Standardbred horses by ineligible individuals, a practice known as “bearding.” Bearding is prohibited by the USTA’s Rules and Bylaws, and for too long, the USTA has had insufficient resources to investigate and enforce violations of these Rules. That era has ended.
The USTA tasked SRIF with, among other things, investigating suspected bearding in the Standardbred industry. That inquiry yielded results. Today, the Board approved the appointment of a five-member committee to consider SRIF’s findings and determine whether certain USTA members violated the Association’s Rules and Bylaws. Facts uncovered in SRIF’s investigation will remain confidential until the committee’s work is complete.