Brennan

The appellants, a jockey and a trainer, appealed a ruling that suspended the jockey for three days and disqualified their horse from first to sixth place in a major stakes race due to alleged interference.

The stewards had concluded that the jockey jerked his horse into the path of another, causing it to clip heels and stumble.

Upon reviewing the video evidence and hearing testimony from the riders and an expert witness, the panel found that the video was inconclusive and that the other horse had actually run up on the field after a poor start.

The panel concluded that the appellant jockey maintained his lane and did not cause the interference.

The appeal was allowed, the suspension was rescinded, and the horse's first-place finish was restored.

The appellant, a thoroughbred trainer, appealed a Stewards' ruling fining him $1,500 for a positive drug test (Naquasone) on a horse under the day-to-day care of his assistant trainer at another track.

The majority of the Ontario Racing Commission allowed the appeal regarding the positive test, finding the appellant did not have 'charge, custody or care' of the horse as required by Rule 15.06.1.

However, the Commission substituted a finding that the appellant violated Rule 15.09.1(f) by failing to ensure his assistant trainer maintained appropriate medication records, and imposed a $1,500 fine for that violation.

A dissenting commissioner would have upheld the original ruling.

Standardbred Licensee David MacNabb requested a hearing before the Ontario Racing Commission regarding the Executive Director's Notice of Proposed Order to refuse to issue a licence.

After hearing from both parties and witnesses, the Commission confirmed the Executive Director's Notice of Proposed Order to refuse to issue a licence.

The Commission provided oral reasons for its decision on the record.

Windsor Raceway applied for 124 live race dates for the 2005 calendar year, following two previously deficient applications.

The Ontario Harness Horse Association opposed the reduction, arguing for a return to the 153 dates approved in 2003 and 2004.

The Commission criticized both parties for focusing on self-interest rather than the public interest.

The Commission ultimately approved a schedule resulting in 131 live dates and 1,965 live racing opportunities, emphasizing the need to resume racing and consider the broader public interest.

The appellant, a standardbred licensee, appealed a Judges' Ruling that suspended him for 60 days and fined him $1,500 for a positive TCO2 test result from a horse he raced.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal regarding the rule violation but allowed the appeal in part regarding the penalty, reducing the suspension to 30 days while maintaining the $1,500 fine.

The Ontario Racing Commission held a hearing regarding Winrac Development Inc.'s failure to complete a new paddock at Woodstock Raceway by the amended deadline of August 3, 2004.

Winrac argued that the delay was caused by its landlord, the Woodstock Agricultural Society, and requested a suspended penalty.

The Commission rejected this argument, finding that Winrac failed to exercise due diligence in obtaining the necessary approvals from its landlord.

The Commission concluded that Winrac failed to comply with a requirement of the Commission and imposed a fine of $20,000.