Sacramento, CA--The United States Trotting Association directors from District 3 conducted their annual meeting on Sunday (Jan. 6) at the Hilton Arden West in Sacramento, Calif.  

District chairman Ivan Axelrod led the meeting, and was joined by fellow directors Chris Schick and David Siegel. USTA Executive Vice President Mike Tanner assisted with the discussion of rule change proposals and provided a brief outline of the organization's goals for 2013, including the ongoing development of an online entry platform for racetracks and horsemen.

The directors and the several dozen in attendance spent considerable time deliberating and voting upon 11 rule change proposals submitted by members, track officials, and the USTA staff. The district's recommendations are as follows: 

Proposal #1 (Bonus Earnings):  Reject
Proposal #2 (Race Numbering):  Approve
Proposal #3 (Prohibition of Same-Day Fair Entries):  Defer/No Opinion
Proposal #4 (Provisional Driver Preferences):  Reject
Proposal #5 (Matinee License Minimum Age):  Approve
Proposal #6 (Timing In Hundredths):  Reject
Proposal #7 (Pleasure Horse Registration Language):  Approve
Proposal #8 (Standard of Conduct Language):  Approve with modification
Proposal #9 (DNA Verification Requirement for Sales):  Reject
Proposal #10 (Appeals to Full Board):  Reject Proposal #11 (Animal Cruelty Mandatory Ban):  Approve

Besides Axelrod, the other directors also addressed the audience, overlapping somewhat on the subject of exchange wagering. Siegel, the CEO of TrackMaster, explained the nuances of the exchange wagering concept, while Schick, Cal Expo's general manager, responded to a question by indicating that the new betting format could be introduced by the end of the current meet.  

Also delivering remarks was Alan Horowitz, the Executive Director of the California Harness Horsemen's Association, who provided an overview of California racing's current racing landscape.