Fort Lauderdale, FL --- The third and final day of the U.S. Trotting Association's Board of Directors annual meeting came to a swift close on Monday; three brief committee meetings preceded an even shorter meeting of the full board, but there was plenty accomplished before the final gavel fell.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Chairman of the Board Ivan Axelrod presided over the closing session.

A trio of rule changes and one by-law change were approved by the Board: Drivers in matinee races must now be at least age 14, up from 12; owners using the Pleasure Horse registry must now surrender the horse’s registration certificate; and persons falsely representing the true ownership of a horse will now be suspended for at least one year.

The bylaw change accommodates state laws, which vary, helping to define when individuals may be suspended by the USTA for adverse rulings arising from the mistreatment of a horse.

The Board also approved the USTA’s 2013 budget, which predicts a surplus of about $120,000 and mandates no increases in any dues or fees.

USTA President Phil Langley appointed a committee, to be chaired by Harrington Raceway’s Jim Boese, that will determine whether Association membership should automatically be granted to anyone licensed by a state authority rather than having USTA membership applications individually examined as they are now.

Prior to adjourning, the Board resolved to next meet in Columbus, Ohio, on March 29-31, 2014.