The United States Trotting Association

What The United States Trotting Association does

The United States Trotting Association (USTA), founded in 1939 and headquartered in Westerville, Ohio, is a non-profit membership organization that serves as the official breed registry and record-keeper for the Standardbred horse and the sport of harness racing in the United States. It maintains the proprietary Pathway database—an internet-based system containing horse registrations, ownership transfers, pedigree records, racing results, race charts, video replays, and participant licensing data covering all North American pari-mutuel and fair Standardbred tracks in the U.S. and Canada. Supporting products include MyAccount, Online Services, the Online Horse Entry system (the first electronic entry platform among North American racing breeds), Hoof Beats magazine, Youth Beats, the Stallion Showcase, and the Life After Racing program, with a research collaboration with UC Davis on equine genetics.

USTA generates revenue through a diversified fee-for-service model: individual memberships at $75–$222 annually, horse registrations at $150–$450 by age tier, driver/trainer licenses at $50–$85, Hoof Beats subscriptions at $25–$42.50, Pathway data reports and video replays priced from $0.25 to $34.95, ownership transfer fees tiered by elapsed time, and driving colors registration. Its go-to-market is primarily digital self-serve via MyAccount and Online Services, supplemented by the TrackMaster channel partnership for race programs, mail-order publications, and content marketing through USTrottingNews.com and social channels. Primary customer segments are Standardbred owners/breeders and drivers/trainers, with secondary segments including handicappers, bettors, and state racing commissions that adopt USTA rules and standards, most recently including the 2024-launched Equine Health & Wellness Database (EHWD).

Name

The United States Trotting Association

Legal name

The United States Trotting Association

Website

https://ustrotting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The United States Trotting Association is the official North American breed registry and governing body for Standardbred horses and harness racing, operating the Pathway database, licensing participants, setting rules, and publishing Hoof Beats magazine for owners, breeders, drivers, trainers, regulators, and fans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equine Breed Registry and Harness Racing Governance

NAICS

Horses and Other Equine Production (11292)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)

akta.pro primary industry

Racing Associations, Governance & Integrity Services (MPAEADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Racing Technology & Timing/Tracking Infrastructure (MPAEADAN), Jockeys, Drivers & Officials (Licensing/Representation) (MPAEADAK)

Keywords

• Standardbred breed registry
• Harness racing governance
• Equine database services
• Horse registration
• Racing performance data

Headquarters

HQ city

Westerville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Individual active/associate memberships at $90/year new or $75/year renewal; three-year options available at $222 new or $200 renewal
2. Horse Registration and Licensing: Fees for horse registration (sucklings $150, weanlings $185, yearlings $450), transfers, name changes, lifetime eligibility certificates ($100), and driver/trainer licenses ($85 new/1yr, $50 renewal/1yr)
3. Hoof Beats Magazine: Magazine subscription at $25/year for members, $42.50 for non-members US; higher rates for Canada and foreign subscriptions
4. Data and Report Sales: Sale of Pathway reports including Basic Horse Reports, racelines, pedigree reports, and race charts at various price points ($0.75-$29.50 for members)
5. Video Replays: Video race replays from participating tracks at $0.25 for members and $0.50 for non-members per viewing
6. Colors Registration: Driving colors registration at $115 original application, $58 for changes, $12 duplicate card

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The USTA serves as the official breed registry and record-keeper for Standardbred horses in the United States, registering horses, licensing drivers/trainers/officials, and maintaining the Pathway database of breeding, ownership, and racing records. It also publishes Hoof Beats magazine, sells TrackMaster racing data products, and provides the Stallion Showcase and Life After Racing programs to support the harness racing industry.

Product overview

The United States Trotting Association operates a platform-plus-services model centered on Pathway, its comprehensive internet-based database for Standardbred racing and breeding records. Core member-facing products include MyAccount for account management, Online Services for transaction processing, and Online Horse Entry for electronic race entries. Publication offerings include Hoof Beats Magazine (subscription) and Youth Beats (free). The USTA partners with TrackMaster for race program products and operates Stallion Showcase and Life After Racing programs for industry-specific needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pathway: USTA's internet-based computer database providing complete and official data on Standardbred racing and breeding, including horse information, membership data, racing information, track data, breeding information, and video replays.
• Hoof Beats Magazine
• Youth Beats
• Stallion Showcase

Products and services

• Pathway Central Database Integrated central database for Standardbred breed registration, ownership records, breeding records, and racing performance history; used by members, breeders, state commissions, and tracks.
• MyAccount Online member account portal where USTA members manage their personal information, registrations, and access to association services.
• Online Services Online platform for horse registration filings and related transactional services for USTA members and the public.
• Hoof Beats Magazine Official print and digital publication of the USTA covering harness racing news, features, statistics, and industry information for members, fans, and the broader racing community.
• Youth Beats Youth-oriented publication and program from USTA designed to engage younger audiences with harness racing content.
• TrackMaster Products Line of racing data products providing harness racing results, statistics, charts, and performance data to consumers, tracks, and the betting public.
• Stallion Showcase USTA platform showcasing Standardbred stallions, providing breeding information and pedigree resources to breeders and mare owners.
• Life After Racing USTA program supporting Standardbred horses transitioning out of racing into second careers and post-racing welfare.

Quantifiable outcome

• First electronic horse entry system for any racing breed in North America

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TrackMastercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTrackMaster produces official USTA race programs with past performances, speed & class ratings, and trainer/driver statistics. Programs available in multiple formats (Condensed, 10 Line, Large Type) with race replay links.
• University of California Davis (UC Davis)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSTA collaborates with UC Davis on genetic study for abnormal foals. Breeders and owners report genetic abnormalities, and blood/hair samples are sent to UC Davis for DNA testing to preserve sample integrity.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Equibase: The official Thoroughbred data and handicapping platform, jointly owned by The Jockey Club and Breeders' Cup. Comparable to USTA's Pathway as the canonical racing data provider for its breed, but for Thoroughbreds; a potential data-model benchmark for Pathway.
• TrackMaster: Provider of past-performance products and race program data, already a USTA channel partner. Comparable as a racing data distribution and handicapping product company; a current partner rather than competitor but a potential independent alternative.

Direct peers

• The Jockey Club: The official Thoroughbred breed registry and governing body in North America. Most directly comparable to USTA in structure and function — operates the registry, maintains the stud book, governs rules, and licenses participants — but for the larger Thoroughbred segment.
• American Quarter Horse Association: The world's largest breed registry, serving the Quarter Horse industry with registration, rule-making, and member services. Comparable to USTA as a breed registry monetizing registration fees, memberships, publications, and performance data.
• Standardbred Canada: The Canadian Standardbred breed registry and governing body for harness racing in Canada. Directly comparable to USTA, working in tandem on North American records; provides a natural cross-border peer given USTA's stated US/Canada operational scope.
• The Hambletonian Society: Staging organization for the major Standardbred trotting and pacing stakes (including the Hambletonian). Comparable to USTA as a key Standardbred-specific organization; complementary in the harness racing ecosystem rather than direct competition.
• Harness Racing Communications: The publicity and media arm of the US harness racing industry, distributing news and promotional content. Comparable to USTA's Hoof Beats and USTrottingNews media functions; a directly overlapping content and audience peer within harness racing.

Broad incumbents

• American Horse Council: National trade association representing the entire US horse industry across breeds and disciplines. Comparable to USTA in its role as a national-level industry body, but operating across all equine segments rather than specializing in Standardbreds.
• National Thoroughbred Racing Association: Broad-based Thoroughbred industry governing body that promotes and represents the sport. Comparable to USTA's promotional and governance role, but covering the larger Thoroughbred segment; a broader incumbent in racing industry representation.

Emerging players

• American Paint Horse Association: Breed registry and membership organization for the American Paint Horse. Comparable business model (registrations, memberships, publications, performance tracking) but focused on a smaller, non-racing-specific breed.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ustrotting
• YouTubeyoutube.com/ustrotting
• Facebookfacebook.com/ustrotting
• Instagraminstagram.com/ustrotting
• TikToktiktok.com/@u.s._trotting
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-states-trotting-assn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The United States Trotting Association