Where was the USTA at the Montreal Conference?

April 30th 2008

 2 comments
The leadership of the United States Trotting Association ought to be ashamed of itself-- and membership ought to be downright outraged-- that there was no USTA representative sent to Standardbred Canada's wagering conference in Montreal this week-- at least not through Tuesday. What does the USTA think? That any bright ideas in Canada are automatically not going to work in the States? That some of the brighest and most creative talents our sport has on this Continent-- and by that I mean our Canadian colleagues-- aren't good enough? And what in the world did Phil Langley and Eric Sharbaugh or anyone else of import at the USTA have on their plates earlier this week that was more important than taking a short flight from Columbus to Montreal?
 
I applaud Tom Charters and Moira Fanning, two important members of our community (and the Hambletonian Society) for taking the time and making the effort to sit in and perhaps learn a thing or two about what's wrong and how to fix it. And I urge all of you out there who are USTA members to make clear your disdain for the lack of diligence the Association displayed this week. The problems aren't going to fix themselves and good ideas aren't simply going to float down onto Columbus like autumn leaves.

Comments

Andrew Cohen said...

Just an update. I still have not received a response from Eric Sharbaugh or anyone else at the USTA to my inquiry about the Association's presence at the Standardbred Canada wagering conference. I will keep you posted if I do.

posted at 3:54 PM on May 1st 2008

Keith Gisser said...

I am not sure the USTA was invited to this conference, but it seems the USTA is not interested in wagering, regardless. Despite an expensive upgrade to their computer reporting system, they still refuse to post mutuel payoffs in their web results.
This is a business decisison the organization appears to have made. Position the sport as that-- a sport or perhaps an entertainment venue, not as a agmbling product.
While this is a noble pursuit, it may not be the greatest business model in this day and age.

posted at 3:29 PM on May 1st 2008

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