Post by the believer on Nov 4, 2006 9:41:54 GMT -5
Ohio leads all states in USTA members
Prosperity can do wonders for horse owners.
That’s proven by a look at USTA membership in the state of Delaware. A decade ago, the First State had 696 USTA members. Today, after the impact of slot machines at the state’s tracks has lifted all boats, USTA membership in Delaware stands at 1,241.
The changes aren’t as dramatic in Indiana, but the Hoosier State has increased its number of USTA members from 1,116 in 1996 to a current total of 1,304. That is undoubtedly due to the opening of Indiana Downs, and previously Hoosier Park.
Surprisingly, in Mississippi the sport has grown in popularity despite the lack of pari-mutuel racing opportunities. In 1986, there were 98 USTA members in Mississippi. A decade later that total had grown to 136 and it now stands at 220.
On the other side of the equation, New York had 9,065 members in 1986, dropped to 4,173 by 1996 and currently has 3,264 USTA members. With the advent of slots in the Empire State and skyrocketing purses, that trend should be reversed and USTA membership should begin to increase.
Ohio horseman are anxiously awaiting a vote Tuesday on a statewide ballot issue that would bring slot machines to Ohio’s tracks. It’s no secret that Ohio harness racing has fallen on hard times in recent years. Accordingly, USTA membership in the Buckeye State has fallen from 6,599 in 1986 to 4,845 in 1996 to 3,823 currently. A positive vote on Issue 3 on Tuesday would signal a renaissance in Ohio racing.
Overall, total USTA membership stands at 24,027. That includes all states, Canadian provinces, and international members.
USTA membership peaked at around 50,000 in the mid-1980s, and was at 31,506 in 1996. In recent years, the decreases have been smaller, due in measure to the strength of racing in states such as Delaware and Mississippi. Also, the USTA has offered free memberships to young people to interest them in the sport. Recently, the USTA has worked with regulators to identify people participating in racing without USTA membership (or delinquent membership) and bring them into the USTA.
While the traditional states such as Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Michigan remain strongholds of USTA membership, there are several states which boast only a few members. Hawaii and Montana each have only one member. There are two members, each, in Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Vermont, and Wyoming.
Prosperity can do wonders for horse owners.
That’s proven by a look at USTA membership in the state of Delaware. A decade ago, the First State had 696 USTA members. Today, after the impact of slot machines at the state’s tracks has lifted all boats, USTA membership in Delaware stands at 1,241.
The changes aren’t as dramatic in Indiana, but the Hoosier State has increased its number of USTA members from 1,116 in 1996 to a current total of 1,304. That is undoubtedly due to the opening of Indiana Downs, and previously Hoosier Park.
Surprisingly, in Mississippi the sport has grown in popularity despite the lack of pari-mutuel racing opportunities. In 1986, there were 98 USTA members in Mississippi. A decade later that total had grown to 136 and it now stands at 220.
On the other side of the equation, New York had 9,065 members in 1986, dropped to 4,173 by 1996 and currently has 3,264 USTA members. With the advent of slots in the Empire State and skyrocketing purses, that trend should be reversed and USTA membership should begin to increase.
Ohio horseman are anxiously awaiting a vote Tuesday on a statewide ballot issue that would bring slot machines to Ohio’s tracks. It’s no secret that Ohio harness racing has fallen on hard times in recent years. Accordingly, USTA membership in the Buckeye State has fallen from 6,599 in 1986 to 4,845 in 1996 to 3,823 currently. A positive vote on Issue 3 on Tuesday would signal a renaissance in Ohio racing.
Overall, total USTA membership stands at 24,027. That includes all states, Canadian provinces, and international members.
USTA membership peaked at around 50,000 in the mid-1980s, and was at 31,506 in 1996. In recent years, the decreases have been smaller, due in measure to the strength of racing in states such as Delaware and Mississippi. Also, the USTA has offered free memberships to young people to interest them in the sport. Recently, the USTA has worked with regulators to identify people participating in racing without USTA membership (or delinquent membership) and bring them into the USTA.
While the traditional states such as Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Michigan remain strongholds of USTA membership, there are several states which boast only a few members. Hawaii and Montana each have only one member. There are two members, each, in Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Vermont, and Wyoming.