The Board of Directors of the U.S. Trotting Association convened its annual meeting on Saturday (March 20) in Columbus, Ohio

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President Phil Langley set the tone for the meeting by outlining two major problems facing the board: “First, we’re going to have to come to terms with the financial health of the USTA and discuss how we will solve some budget problems, and we’re also, with the closing of SIS (Standardbred Investigative Services), figure a way to replace the valuable services they’ve provided for us in the past.”

Both topics will be discussed at length by the various committees and full board that will gather over the three-day run of the annual meeting.

Ed Martin, president of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, and Rick Goodell, representing the National Racing Compact (www.racinglicense.com), asked the USTA Board for its support in the formulation of another compact -- one that would address uniform rules application across all jurisdictions.

Seen as a way to strengthen regulation and to apply equitable penalties for rules violations, such a compact, Martin said, would permit local horsemen to have a voice in the process.

“Even though several states would be involved, local horsemen would still be a part of the rulemaking process,” Martin told the directors. “There is nothing in the compact that would permit rules to be made in other states to be forced on you without your voice being heard.”

Martin estimated that work to complete the compact -- essentially a contract among the various racing states -- would take three years to complete.

Also at the opening session, Dick Brandt of Ohio was elected treasurer by the USTA Board, President Phil Langley began the final year of his four-year term on Saturday, and USTA Chairman Ivan Axelrod, Vice Chairman Russell Williams and Secretary Barbara Brooks were returned to their offices for one-year terms after having been unopposed for election.

The Board will convene again on Sunday morning, and the day’s agenda will also feature meetings of the Registration, Regulatory, Fairs, Communications/Marketing and Rules Committees.

(USTA)