Hon. James M. Donnelly

The appellant, a standardbred trainer, appealed a ruling prohibiting him from participating in racing in Ontario based on a reciprocal enforcement of a ban in Virginia and a licence revocation in Massachusetts.

The appellant had failed to disclose these foreign penalties on his Ontario licence applications.

The Ontario Racing Commission rescinded the reciprocal enforcement order due to concerns about procedural fairness in the foreign jurisdiction, but accepted a joint submission cancelling the appellant's trainer's licence and granting him a conditional tradesman's licence as a farrier due to his failure to disclose the foreign penalties.

The appellant, owner of the horse MIA D'COUGAR, appealed a Stewards' ruling that disqualified the horse from first place and placed it fifth for interfering with another horse during a race.

The Ontario Racing Commission panel reviewed the video evidence and testimony, finding clear and compelling evidence that MIA D'COUGAR cut into the other horse's racing lane without clearing, causing the other jockey to check his mount.

The panel upheld the disqualification and placement under the Rules of Thoroughbred Racing.

The Administration's request for costs on the basis of a frivolous appeal was denied.

The appellant, a licensed veterinarian, appealed a ruling that fined him $5,000, suspended him for 90 days, and imposed two years' probation for refusing a search of his vehicle by an ORC investigator.

The investigator requested the search after observing suspicious behavior, including the disposal of a used syringe and the movement of the appellant's vehicle in and out of the fenced paddock area.

The appellant argued the vehicle was outside the fenced enclosure and not subject to search.

The Ontario Racing Commission denied the appeal, finding the investigator had reasonable cause and the search powers extended to the entire grounds of the association.

The fine and probation were upheld, but the suspension was stayed on the condition that the appellant abide by the Rules of Racing.

The appellants appealed a decision of the Standardbred Industry Appeal Board that overturned a ruling by the Mohawk Raceway Judges.

The Judges had placed the horse Won The West fourth for going inside two consecutive pylons during the stretch drive.

The Ontario Racing Commission allowed the appeal, finding that the horse did go inside two consecutive pylons without interference, which under industry protocol constitutes an unfair advantage.

The original order of finish posted by the Judges was restored.