After this week's United States Trotting Association Executive Board meeting "Fake News" seemed to hit social media even before the meeting's adjournment.
The Standardbred Transition Alliance, the STA, has been a hot topic for the last year. The idea was formed based on the clear success of the already existing Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. The TAA accredits existing racehorse aftercare organizations based on important criteria such as; that they are pro-racing, maintain a current 501(c)3 federal status, and create fundraisers to aid accredited organizations.
The TAA was founded in 2012 and have granted $10 million dollars to 7,000 Thoroughbreds to be retrained, rehomed or retired by their 64 accredited organizations (www.ThoroughbredAftercare.org).
At the meetings of this week's Executive Committee meeting, the STA's proposal was brought to the Board of Directors requesting $75,000 to be diverted from the SOS program that has been in place to help rescue horses.
When the rebuttle and directors questions began, it was clear that the Standardbred Transition Alliance did not yet have had not shared any details deemed important such as a business proposal, budget, mission, or vision in place to accompany their request.
Through negotiation without the necessary details it was decided that the $75,000 fund allocation would have to be "tabled" until the STA can create a more extensive business plan and budget to accompany their request.
An alternate suggestion, by Joe Faraldo was made in discussion on the motion to table, that upon delivery of more details perhaps it would be wise to deliver funds in tranches starting at $25,000, upon the STA reaching stated goals of actual contributions from industry participants themselves. Supplementing STA's growth further as the goal levels were achieved down the line. The motion carried however, because of the underlying failure of a concrete plan being presented.
Soon after, the President of the USTA, Russell Williams, (Trotstorm @Russell_USTA) took to social media private messaging USTA members to "Tell You Directors to support the STA and retweet, please #supportSTA" and made a public Tweet as follows;
"After an intense day, we have a good budget. All action items complete but one. The directors can't get together to support the Standardbred Transition Alliance. We are the last major breed in the US to have zero infrastructure for post career horses".
This tweet then went viral, as it became quickly assumed that the USTA Board of Directors that voted against the $75,000 fund allocation were against the STA. The assumption on behalf of social media weren't portrayed by the USTA President that the majority of the Directors' action reflected their disinterest in helping seed this new entity was false and misleading. wasn't entirely honest in fact true.
After looking into the matter more extensively, it became clear that clearly the majority of the board Executive Committee felt that without a proper business proposal in place, it would be irresponsible to allocate those funds at this time. Especially after the recent dues increase and a potential $700,000.00 projected deficit in the next 5 years.
If you revisit the Twitter and Facebook posts you will see a plethora of negativity surrounding this.
On occasion through Facebook comments, the USTA Directors are referred to as "heartless", "disgusting", and "clueless", in retrospect this isn't the case.
Gabe Wand, a member of the USTA Executive Board of Directors stated, "the majority of our board would love nothing more than to see this effort become fruitful. At this time we need to see a more transparent plan in place.
We need to make sure this group is pro-racing and their mission is congruent with the USTA's mission. I have faith this will be something great. The STA Board plans to have their first meeting late November, we will relook at this once we receive more information."
After chatting with many other board members this statement rang true.
As an avid supporter of aftercare, I find faith in Wand's statement and look forward to seeing the STA become a staple within the harness racing industry.
I cannot help but think, that in wake of an epic $750,000 social media bust, can you blame the USTA Board of Directors Executive Committee for requesting a more extensive business plan/proposal before allocating $75,000? I cant.
This letter was submitted by Ashley Tetrick, Delaware