The USTA District 4-B meeting was held Saturday (January 27) at the Howard Johnson Hotel in Madison in conjunction with the Wisconsin Harness Horse Association (WHHA) annual meeting and banquet.
The day started with a session on shoeing techniques by longtime Chicago farrier Chuck Bright, who has shod horses such as Big Tom over his 38-year career.
The WHHA annual meeting followed, discussing the 2017 racing and the upcoming 2018 fair schedule. Four years ago an anonymous donation injected the purse account with $75,000. As it currently stands, based on current spending, there is another four years left to fund purses. Discussion ensued about the longevity of the purse account and what to do moving forward to continue racing in the state.
After 14 years serving as president, Gabe Wand announced that he will be stepping down, but will continue to serve on the board. Directors Jeanne Marquis, Patti Strand and Sara Weaver were re-elected to three-year terms.
Incoming District 4-B Director Bruce Alexander phoned in to welcome everyone to the USTA meeting. District Chairman Wand thanked outgoing Director Bob Yohn for his years of service.
A discussion of rule change proposals, which can be viewed by clicking here, followed and the voting results are as follows:
1. (uniform claiming allowance percentages) – approved
2. (head numbers) – approved
3. (define ‘length’) – approved
4. (breath analyzer requirements) – rejected
5. (illegal human drugs) – approved, with clarification on which are illegal
6. (officials at charted matinees) – approved
7. (track condition, wind variant) – rejected
8. (identifier verifies males) – approved
9. (stable vs. corporation) – approved
10. (scratches due to date change) – approved
11. (fair start pole) – rejected
12. (physical examination) – rejected
13. (disorderly conduct) – rejected
14. (driver substitution) – rejected
15. (whipping regulations #1) – rejected
16. (whipping regulations #2) – rejected
17. (talking on the track) – rejected
18. (gelding/spaying) – approved
19. (paying trainers) – approved
20. (pleasure horse registration) – approved
21. (breeder of record) – approved
22. (reusing names) – approved
23. (embryo transfers) – approved
24. (by-law: dissolution of district meetings) – rejected
Following the district meeting, guest speaker John Butenschoen detailed how he has transitioned from training horses for 23 years just over the border in Marengo, Ill. to being based at Southern Oaks Training Center in Sorrento, Fla. in the winter and at WinGate in Wind Gap, Pa. during the main racing season.
Butenschoen spoke again after dinner about his exceptional 2017 racing season and three Hambletonian starters. The annual awards banquet and live auction closed out the evening.
(USTA)