USTA Response

The following is the letter in response to my mailing of July 14th. In effect, I have no way other than beiing a part (member) of the USTA to get the rules changed.
Here is the letter:

Hello Mr. Zanakis,

I spoke with TC Lane in our regulatory for some insight to your question. You may know that the tracks collect and report equipment changes to the public. The type of equipment change is noted, but never the manufacturer. That is not recorded in our database.

There could be multiple companies that make a type of bit, for instance, it doesn’t change the construction or function at all. There is a list of approved bikes and I will suggest that photos be included. Are you a USTA member? If so, you are certainly welcome to propose the manufacturer or at least type, graphite vs aluminum, rather than manufacturer. I can guide you through that process.

You may have noticed that the manufacturer of a sulky makes sure that the bike ends up with top drivers who compete with talented horses that race at low odds. Almost never do you see such bikes on horses that are 50-1 from post 8 and a stable with a winning .010 average J . I recall Bill O’Donnell being asked for his thoughts on the new bikes and he noted that if the right horse was pulling it, they worked quite well J.

Please let me know if you would like to make a rule change proposal regarding equipment and I will give you the information. It would then be at the discretion of individual states to adopt those rules.

Thanks for your interest,

Ellen