Ernest Nock

The Ontario Racing Commission heard applications from Quinte Exhibition and Raceway, Kawartha Downs Raceway, and Sudbury Raceway for their 2003 live and intertrack race dates.

The Commission approved the requested dates for Quinte Exhibition.

For Kawartha Downs, the Commission approved the dates and a proposal to reconstruct the track into a dual-purpose facility for horse and car racing, subject to strict pre-conditions regarding facility improvements and track maintenance.

For Sudbury Raceway, the Commission approved a reduced 66-day schedule but required a revised calendar to extend the racing season over eight months rather than concentrating days in the summer, balancing the track's financial concerns with the horsemen's need for an extended season.

Thoroughbred Owner/Trainer Tom Marino appealed a ruling of the Thoroughbred Industry Appeal Board that upheld the Stewards' decision not to disqualify the horse BARBELLA for alleged interference during a race.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal after hearing testimony from stewards, jockeys, and owners.

Jockey Constant Montpellier appealed a decision of the Thoroughbred Industry Appeal Board upholding a three-day suspension for violating TB Rule 9.01 by failing to demonstrate the best and fastest race his mount was capable of.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal, finding that the jockey committed an error in judgment that prevented his mount from demonstrating its best race, but varied the penalty to a one-day suspension.

The applicant, a standardbred licensee, requested a hearing before the Ontario Racing Commission for the reinstatement of his licence.

The Commission ordered that his trainer licence remain suspended for a further three months, while his owner licence was reinstated subject to a prohibition on training his own horses during the suspension period.

Both licences were placed on probation for nine months, and the applicant was ordered to submit to mandatory drug testing.

The moving parties, licensees in the horse racing industry, brought a motion to exclude statements and documents compelled by the Administration of the Ontario Racing Commission during an investigation.

They argued that the compulsion violated sections 7, 11, and 13 of the Charter.

The Commission panel dismissed the motion, finding that the Charter sections did not apply to the regulatory investigation, as the proceedings did not involve true penal consequences and did not engage liberty or security interests.

The panel ruled the evidence admissible, noting that even if a Charter breach occurred, the evidence would not be excluded under section 24(2).

The appellant, a thoroughbred owner and trainer, appealed a Stewards' Ruling that suspended his licence for one year for causing the falsification of the transfer of ownership on a foal certificate.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard the appeal and dismissed it, upholding the one-year suspension and allowing the horse to be removed from the Stewards' List at their discretion.

Standardbred owner and trainer Lisa Vanderwal appeared before the Ontario Racing Commission seeking reinstatement of her licence after being suspended, fined, and placed on probation due to a positive test from a horse she trained.

The Commission ordered the reinstatement of her licence subject to several strict conditions, including mandatory paddock attendance, a restriction on the number of horses in her stable, and mandatory access for Commission enforcement personnel.

The conditions remain in effect until the expiration of her probation period.

Standardbred owner Deborah Critchell appealed a ruling by the Ontario Racing Commission Judges that suspended the horse QUICKSTEP BLUECHIP pending an investigation into its bona fide ownership.

The Ontario Racing Commission panel heard evidence and disallowed the appeal, upholding the suspension.

Oral reasons were provided.

Driver/Trainer Sandy Jones appealed a decision of the Standardbred Industry Appeal Board upholding a ten-day driving suspension for driving in a careless or reckless manner.

The Ontario Racing Commission panel heard evidence and dismissed the appeal, with reasons given orally.

Standardbred driver/trainer Sandy Jones appealed a decision of the Standardbred Industry Appeal Board upholding a five-day driving suspension for indiscriminate whip use.

The Ontario Racing Commission panel heard evidence and dismissed the appeal, providing oral reasons.

The appellant, a thoroughbred trainer, appealed a Stewards' decision suspending him for 60 days and fining him $1,500 after a horse he trained tested positive for a prohibited Class III drug.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal, upholding the suspension and fine.

Oral reasons were provided separately.

The appellants, a thoroughbred trainer and two owners, appealed a ruling that fined the trainer $1,000 and ordered the return of second-place purse monies after their horse failed to attend the TCO2 testing area.

The Ontario Racing Commission panel upheld the $1,000 fine against the trainer but ordered that the second-place purse monies be distributed to the owners.

Rideau Carleton Raceway applied for 127 days of live racing for 2002, which would involve a reduction of 21 live race dates from 2001 and eliminate winter racing for four months.

The application was opposed by the Ontario Harness Horse Association and local horsepeople, who argued that the lack of winter racing would severely impact their livelihoods and that there were no viable alternative venues in eastern Ontario.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the application without prejudice, noting the applicant's uncertainty regarding viable race dates and the failure to explore alternatives to mitigate the impact on horsepeople during the winter months.

The appellant, a standardbred licensee, appealed a ruling by the Judges at Western Fair Raceway that placed his horse 5th for violating Rule 22.05(h) by striking the wheels of another sulky.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard testimony and dismissed the appeal, providing oral reasons.

Standardbred licensee William Cass appealed a ruling by the Judges at Windsor Raceway that placed his horse 5th and suspended him for 3 days for causing interference.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard testimony and dismissed the appeal.

Jockey Emile Ramsammy was summonsed by the Ontario Racing Commission Administration to testify at an appeal hearing but failed to appear.

A panel convened to consider his non-attendance.

After reviewing the summons and hearing submissions from counsel, the panel fined Mr. Ramsammy $1,000 pursuant to Thoroughbred Rule 24.01(d) for failing to attend and provide testimony when properly summonsed.

The appellant jockey appealed a decision of the Ontario Thoroughbred Racing Industry Appeal Board upholding a 3-day suspension for striking his mount on the head during a race.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard the appeal, reviewed videotape evidence, and dismissed the appeal, upholding the suspension.

The appellant, a thoroughbred jockey, appealed a decision of the Ontario Thoroughbred Racing Industry Appeal Board upholding a three-day suspension for interfering with another horse during a race.

The Ontario Racing Commission panel heard testimony from an ORC Steward and the appellant.

The panel dismissed the appeal and upheld the suspension, with the suspension days agreed upon by the parties.

Owner/Driver/Trainer David Duncan appealed a Standardbred Racing Industry Appeal Board decision that upheld a three-day suspension for a driving violation under Standardbred Rule 22.13.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard the appeal and testimonies from the parties.

The Commission allowed the appeal, with oral reasons provided on the record.

The Ontario Racing Commission held a hearing to consider applications for 2002 live and intertrack race dates from various racetracks across the province.

After hearing submissions from the applicants, the Administration, and horsemen's associations, the Commission approved the requested dates for thoroughbred, quarter horse, and standardbred racing, subject to certain conditions and undertakings regarding field sizes and racing opportunities.