James Donnelly

The appellant, a Standardbred licensee, appealed a ruling finding a violation of racing rules due to a positive analysis for AMINOREX in a horse.

At the hearing de novo, the Administration called no evidence.

On consent of all parties, the panel allowed the appeal, set aside the finding of responsibility, and maintained the portion of the ruling relating to Rules 9.13 and 18.08.01.

The appellant, a standardbred licensee, appealed the penalty of a 60-day suspension and $1,500 fine imposed after a horse he trained tested positive for an elevated TCO2 level.

The appellant argued for a reduced penalty based on his good character, the likelihood of a feeding error due to his busy stable, and precedents where lesser penalties were given.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal, emphasizing that the public interest and the integrity of racing require strict adherence to the trainer responsibility rules and uniform enforcement of minimum penalty guidelines.

The appellant, a thoroughbred trainer, appealed a Stewards' Ruling suspending him for 180 days for forging the owner's signature on a foal certificate to transfer ownership of a horse to himself.

The appellant claimed the owner had abandoned the horse to him due to unpaid training bills, but admitted to the forgery.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal but varied the penalty by extending the stay of the suspension from 90 to 150 days, citing extreme personal, family, and financial stress as major mitigating factors.

The appellant, a horse trainer, appealed a penalty imposed for forging his sister-in-law's signature on a foal certificate to transfer ownership of a horse to himself after a dispute over unpaid training bills.

The Ontario Racing Commission found that while the appellant committed serious racing violations, there were major mitigating factors, including extreme personal and financial stress due to his child's severe illness.

The Commission dismissed the appeal but varied the penalty, extending the stay of the suspension from 90 days to 150 days, with 30 days to be served.

Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) appealed the Director's decision denying its application to cancel eight standardbred race dates at Woodbine Racetrack.

WEG argued the cancellation was necessary due to a horse shortage caused by a purse imbalance among tracks.

The Ontario Harness Horsemen's Association opposed the application.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal, finding that WEG failed to meet the higher standard required for mid-season race date cancellations under Policy Directive No. 3-2007.

The Commission held that WEG did not provide sufficient factual data or demonstrate positive benefits to all industry stakeholders, and directed that all eight scheduled race dates be maintained.

The Ontario Racing Commission convened an emergency hearing after live race dates were cancelled at Woodstock and Dresden Raceways due to a lack of entered horses.

The Commission ordered a trial experiment for a mini circuit in Southwestern Ontario, allocating 27 live race dates to Woodstock and 25 to Dresden.

The Commission also ordered Winrac Development Inc. to provide independent assurances that the Woodstock facility meets health and safety standards or to detail mitigating steps.

The appellant, a standardbred licensee, requested a hearing to appeal the Director's Order of Immediate Suspension, Proposed Order, and a Ruling imposing a $100,000 fine.

At the hearing, the Director elected to call no evidence.

On an unopposed motion by the appellant, the panel set aside the Order of Immediate Suspension, refused the Proposed Order, and set aside the Director's Ruling.

The licensee appealed the Director's Order of Immediate Suspension, Proposed Order, and Ruling imposing a $100,000 fine.

At the hearing, the Director elected to call no evidence.

On an unopposed motion by the licensee's counsel, the Panel set aside the suspension and ruling, and refused the proposed order.

The Director of the Ontario Racing Commission suspended the licensee for ten years and imposed a $100,000 fine for alleged involvement with prohibited pre-race supplements.

At the hearing, the panel held a voir dire to determine the admissibility of a statement the licensee gave to an investigator.

The panel found that the investigator deliberately misled the licensee into believing he was only a witness in a criminal investigation, thereby inducing the statement through deceit.

The panel ruled the statement inadmissible as its admission would breach the principles of natural justice.

Consequently, the Administration offered no further evidence, and the panel set aside the suspension and rescinded the fine.