Bernard Brennan

The applicant, 405730 Ontario Ltd. (New Hiawatha Horse Park), applied for 52 live race dates and 364 simulcast race dates for the 2006 season.

The Ontario Harness Horse Association suggested a 70-date schedule.

The Ontario Racing Commission approved the application as submitted, noting the track's financial challenges including a significant property tax increase.

The Commission ordered the applicant to file a revised application adding dates if its property tax appeal is successful.

The appellant appealed a ruling and requested a hearing regarding a proposed order to suspend his standardbred license for one year or until a US criminal indictment against him was resolved.

The Ontario Racing Commission upheld the proposed order, finding the Director had reasonable grounds to conclude the appellant would not act with honesty and integrity in the public interest, given the charges related to ephedrine and the use of a barn for its storage.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard applications for 2006 live and intertrack race dates from several track operators.

The Commission approved the race dates for Quinte Exhibition & Raceway on the condition that it would be its final year of operation at the existing facility.

The Commission also approved the race dates for Kawartha Downs Raceway, subject to a joint review of wagering levels with the Ontario Harness Horse Association.

The applications for Windsor Raceway and The New Hiawatha Horse Park were adjourned or deferred.

The Ontario Racing Commission reviewed applications for the 2006 horse racing season.

The Commission approved the requested live standardbred, thoroughbred, and quarter horse race dates, as well as simulcast dates for various racetracks across the province.

All post times were approved as applied for.

The appellant, a standardbred owner and trainer, requested a hearing to review the Executive Director's order of immediate suspension and notice of proposed order to revoke his licence.

The appellant had committed a significant error in judgment and de facto fraud on the racing industry by registering three-year-old horses as two-year-olds.

However, the panel noted that the appellant had voluntarily come forward to reveal the truth and presented substantial character evidence.

The panel quashed the Executive Director's proposed order and substituted a full suspension of all the appellant's licences for a period of three years.

The appellants, a standardbred owner/trainer and an authorized agent/owner/trainer, appealed rulings imposing fines and suspensions following a positive test for a prohibited substance in their horse.

The trainer of record's appeal was dismissed on consent.

The co-owner's appeal was allowed in part; the Commission found he was not directly responsible for the positive test but was responsible for partial care of the horse through their partnership.

His penalty was reduced from a $2,000 fine and 15-day suspension to a $1,000 fine.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard a revised race date application from Windsor Raceway Inc. for 2005 live and intertrack race dates.

The Commission approved 124 live standardbred race dates and 364 intertrack and simulcast dates, subject to the applicant agreeing in writing to add additional dates to bring the total to 131 and to conduct an average of 15 live races per approved date.

If the applicant did not accept these conditions by the specified deadline, the application would be rejected.

The Ontario Racing Commission met to review race date applications for the 2005 season.

After reviewing written submissions, the Commission approved the live standardbred race dates and intertrack/simulcast dates for Sudbury Downs Raceway, Quinte Exhibition & Raceway, New Hiawatha Horse Park, and Western Fair Raceway.

All post times were approved as applied for.

Kelly Sheppard appealed a Judges' Ruling that fined him $2,000 and suspended him for 20 days following a positive test for a prohibited substance in his horse.

The Ontario Racing Commission upheld the fine and the 20-day suspension, but modified the suspension to allow him to enter horses during the final days of the suspension for races scheduled after the suspension period.

The Ontario Racing Commission held a hearing to consider the 2005 live race date applications from Western Fair Raceway, New Hiawatha Horse Park, Woodstock Raceway, and Windsor Raceway.

The Commission evaluated the applications against the public interest and the industry's commitment to promote live horse racing, particularly in light of revenues generated from racetrack slot machines.

The Commission found the applications deficient due to concerns over the compression of racing schedules into summer weekends, the loss of historical winter racing opportunities, and the potential negative impact on horse health and driver pools.

Consequently, the Commission declined to approve the applications and requested the associations to submit revised proposals addressing these concerns.

Jockey Jonathan Jones appealed a Stewards Ruling that found him in violation of the Rules of Thoroughbred Racing for interfering with another horse during a race.

The Stewards had suspended him for three racing days and disqualified his horse from second to fifth position.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal, confirming the order of finish and the three-day suspension.

The Ontario Racing Commission met to review applications for the 2005 live and intertrack race dates.

The Commission approved the requested live standardbred, live thoroughbred, and intertrack/simulcast race dates for various racetracks across Ontario, along with all applied-for post times.

The appellant, a standardbred trainer, appealed a decision suspending his licence for 60 days and fining him $1,500 after a horse he trained tested positive for TCO2.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal on liability, finding the trainer failed to take adequate precautions to protect the horse, especially given the 'poisoned atmosphere' and threats in his barn.

However, considering the significant mitigating circumstances, the Commission allowed the appeal on penalty in part, reducing the suspension to 21 days while maintaining the $1,500 fine.

The appellant, a standardbred owner/driver/trainer, appealed a decision suspending his licence for one year and fining him $5,000 for a positive TCO2 test on a horse.

The appellant failed to appear at the scheduled hearing despite receiving notice.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal as abandoned and ordered the suspension and fine to be continued.

Thoroughbred owner Lynda Elliot-Griem appealed a decision of the Ontario Racing Industry Board of Appeal, which upheld the Stewards' decision to disqualify her horse from first to eighth place due to interference caused by the jockey.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal.

The appellant jockey appealed a decision of the Ontario Racing Industry Board of Appeal, which upheld a five-day suspension imposed by the Stewards for interference during a race.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard the appeal alongside the horse owner's appeal.

After hearing evidence from the Stewards and other witnesses, the Commission dismissed the appeal and ordered the five-day suspension to be served.

The licensee, a standardbred owner, driver, and trainer, requested a hearing after the Deputy Director issued an order of immediate suspension and a notice of proposed order to revoke his license.

The licensee had improperly administered a nasal gastric tube to a racehorse, infusing fluids into its lungs and causing its death.

The Ontario Racing Commission found that the licensee's actions constituted cruelty to the horse, even without intent.

The Commission set aside the proposed revocation and instead ordered a three-year suspension from all participation in horse racing.

The applicant, a licensed standardbred trainer, sought to have the Ontario Racing Commission review and rescind a trespass notice issued by the respondent racetrack operator, which excluded him from racing at its facilities following an equine drug violation.

The Commission first determined it had jurisdiction to review the exercise of the racetrack's private property rights where the issue primarily involved horse racing and the public interest.

On the merits, the Commission found that the racetrack's decision to exclude the trainer was a reasonable exercise of its property rights aimed at protecting the integrity of its racing product and business interests.

The Commission declined to modify the trespass notice and dismissed the trainer's request for reinstatement.

The appellant, a standardbred owner/driver/trainer, appealed a decision of the Ontario Racing Industry Board of Appeal upholding a $200 fine for a driving violation under Rule 22.22.

The appellant failed to appear at the hearing before the Ontario Racing Commission.

After hearing evidence from the Administration, the Commission dismissed the appeal.

The appellant owner/trainer appealed a decision of the Industry Board of Appeal confirming the disqualification of his horse for causing interference during a race.

The Ontario Racing Commission reviewed video evidence and testimony from the stewards and jockeys, concluding that the appellant's horse impeded another horse, causing a chain reaction that resulted in a spill.

The appeal was dismissed and the disqualification affirmed.

A request by the Administration for a penalty for a frivolous appeal was denied by a majority of the panel.