Bernard Brennan

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.

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.

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 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 that upheld a three-day driving suspension for violating Rule 22.05(a) of the Rules of Standardbred Racing.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard evidence from several witnesses and dismissed the appeal, with reasons forming part of the hearing transcript.

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 Ontario Racing Commission heard applications for 2004 race dates from Western Fair, Hiawatha Horse Park, Clinton Raceway, and Woodstock Raceway.

The Ontario Harness Horse Association (OHHA) requested that the Commission order the tracks to conduct additional race dates.

The Commission approved the applications conditionally, requiring the tracks to file amended applications by January 15, 2004, adding dates to their calendars, noting that the tracks had failed to sufficiently build on the opportunity presented by the slots program to enhance live racing.

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.

Thoroughbred owner Richard Jukosky appealed the results of the 8th race at Woodbine Racetrack on September 28, 2003, in which his horse finished second and Dr. John Chandler's horse finished first.

After hearing evidence from several witnesses, the Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal and confirmed the original order of finish.

The appellant, a standardbred owner/driver/trainer, appealed a $600 fine imposed for failing to fulfill his driving engagements in six races.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard the appeal and granted it, with reasons forming part of the hearing transcript.

Thoroughbred owners appealed the decision of the Ontario Racing Industry Board of Appeal, which upheld the Stewards' decision to disqualify their horse from 2nd position and place it 7th for interference during a race at Woodbine Racetrack.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard evidence from several witnesses and dismissed the appeal.

The reasons for the decision were delivered orally and form part of the hearing transcript.

A thoroughbred jockey appealed a Stewards' Ruling fining him $500 for failing to persevere with his mount during a race, in violation of Rule 9.01 of the Rules of Thoroughbred Racing.

Following a hearing where evidence was presented by the jockey and another witness, the Ontario Racing Commission granted the appeal.

The reasons for the decision were delivered orally and form part of the hearing transcript.

The appellants, thoroughbred owners and trainers, appealed a Stewards' ruling denying their protest of a race outcome.

They alleged the winning horse carried less weight than required.

The Commission found that a typographical error in the condition book caused confusion, but the winning horse carried the correct weight according to the official Stakes book.

The Commission refused the appeals, noting that disqualifying the horse would constitute an undue hardship and would not be in the best interests of racing.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard applications for 2004 live and intertrack race dates from Rideau Carleton Raceway and Hiawatha Horse Park.

The Ontario Harness Horse Association opposed Rideau Carleton's application, arguing that the lack of winter racing negatively impacted horsemen and the local economy.

The majority of the Commission approved Rideau Carleton's application for 131 live race dates, finding no convincing evidence that winter racing would have a positive economic impact on the track or handle.

A dissenting opinion argued that the application should be rejected to encourage more live racing opportunities, consistent with the goals of the slots program.