by John Pawlak, the U.S. Trotting Association

Columbus, OH — The U.S. Trotting Association, which will conduct its annual meeting in congress with Harness Horsemen International, Harness Tracks of America and the U.S. Harness Writers’ Association from Feb. 28 through March 4, will provide live, online video streaming of several events and same-day online video coverage of several discussion panels.

Same day video coverage of six discussion panels, to be conducted on March 2 and March 3, will be made available for viewing on the USTA’s website, at www.ustrotting.com, and then by following the “Media” dropdown and then either the “USTA on YouTube” or “USTA on Vimeo” links.

The panels will discuss legislative issues, equine medication, issues facing racinos, global wagering, social media and innovative ideas.

A link to live coverage of the March 3 full USTA Board of Directors meeting, which will feature annual reports to the membership and a discussion of proposed rule changes, will be found on the home page, at www.ustrotting.com, starting at 1 p.m., (all times eastern).

Live coverage of the third and final day of the U.S. Trotting Association Board of Directors meeting will be offered at www.ustrotting.com on Monday (March 4), starting at 1 p.m.

All video content from the Harness Racing Congress will be available at the YouTube and Vimeo links mentioned above once the Congress has come to a close.

Here is a list of events at the 2013 Harness Racing Congress, to be convened at the Westin Beach Resort and Spa in Fort Lauderdale; The items in boldface will be streamed live, online and those in italics will be made available online later the same day.

Thursday, Feb 28
HHI Board Meeting and Reception

Friday, March 1
HTA Meetings
USHWA Board of Directors

Saturday March 2
Panel Discussions —
“Surveying the legislative landscape”
“How can the industry best address the medication issue?”
“Converting slot players into horseplayers”
USTA Rules, Executive, Registration, Pari-Mutuel and SOS Committees
USHWA Membership Meeting

Sunday, March 3
Panel Discussions
“The globalization of harness racing”
“The explosion of social media into harness racing”
“And now for something completely different”
Awards Luncheon
USTA Full Board of Directors — 1 p.m.
USTA Driver-Trainer, Regulatory and Fairs Committees
USHWA “Night of Stars” cocktails and awards banquet – 6 p.m.

Monday, March 4
USTA Rules, Finance and Communications Committees
USTA Full Board of Directors — 1 p.m.