John Macdonald

The appellants appealed a Thoroughbred Official Ruling that imposed a three-day riding suspension on the jockey for interference and changed the horse's order of finish from 1st to 4th.

The Ontario Racing Commission upheld the three-day suspension, finding that the jockey's horse did come over and cause interference.

However, the Commission revised the order of finish for the top four horses, finding that another horse also caused interference.

The appellant, a standardbred licensee, appealed a three-day driving suspension imposed by the Judges for causing interference during a race.

The Ontario Racing Commission held a hearing de novo and reviewed video evidence and witness testimony.

The Commission found that the appellant came out late and caused interference, prompting another driver to pull over and go behind him.

The appeal was denied and the three-day suspension was upheld.

The appellant, a licensed standardbred trainer, appealed a $5,000 fine and 365-day suspension imposed after a horse he trained tested positive for caffeine post-race.

The appellant argued that he relied on veterinary advice and that the trainer responsibility rule should be treated as a strict liability offence, allowing for a due diligence defence.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal, holding that the trainer responsibility rule is an absolute liability offence necessary to protect the integrity of racing.

Furthermore, the Commission found that even if strict liability applied, the appellant failed to establish due diligence due to gaps in evidence regarding the horse's care and security prior to the race.

The appellant, a standardbred licensee, appealed a decision of the Judges imposing a $1,000 fine and a 60-day suspension for possessing a stolen race bike, in violation of the Rules of Standardbred Racing.

The Ontario Racing Commission denied the appeal, finding the appellant in violation of the rules for conduct injurious to racing.

The Commission determined the original penalty was lenient and increased the fine to $2,000 and the suspension to 120 days, along with a two-year probation period.

Masterfeeds appealed a ruling regarding a positive test for Ractopamine in a horse trained by Robert Earl Barnett.

The Ontario Racing Commission allowed the appeal as it pertained to Masterfeeds, declaring its feed products were not the source of the contamination.

Following a pre-hearing conference, Barnett and the ORC Administration agreed to a joint submission on penalty, resulting in a $5,000 fine ($3,500 stayed) and one year of probation with standard terms.

Carolyn Costigan, trainer of the horse Nancy O (IRE), appealed a decision of the Stewards regarding the 6th race at Woodbine Racetrack.

She alleged that another horse, Spring Venture, interfered with her horse at the start of the race, warranting a placing change.

The Ontario Racing Commission panel reviewed the video and heard testimony from the Stewards, jockeys, and trainers.

The panel found that the contact between the horses was incidental and did not warrant a placing change, noting that the appellant's jockey did not check his horse or claim a foul.

The appeal was dismissed.

The appellant appealed the Director's Notice of Proposed Order refusing to issue him a standardbred licence.

The appellant had previously been suspended for 14 months.

During a search of his stable, investigators found thyroxine, a controlled drug, which the appellant had acquired without a veterinary examination or blood test, violating the Rules of Racing.

The Ontario Racing Commission panel denied the appeal, finding that the appellant's conduct placed the integrity of the horse racing industry in question and that he failed to demonstrate he would act in accordance with the law or in the public interest.

His licence remains suspended, with eligibility to re-apply in two years.

The licensee appealed a 60-day suspension and $1,500 fine imposed for a TCO2 confirmation in a standardbred horse.

The Ontario Racing Commission varied the penalty, staying the remaining 16 days of the suspension due to the licensee's cooperation and the impact on his livelihood as an owner, trainer, and driver.

The fine and a two-year probation period were confirmed.

The licensee appealed a penalty of a 10-day driving suspension (with 3 days stayed) and two years' probation for failing to attend a hearing pursuant to a Summons to a Witness.

The Ontario Racing Commission denied the appeal but modified the penalty to a $500 fine, an 8-day driving suspension (with 3 days stayed), and two years' probation, noting the importance of deterrence and the licensee's failure to provide a valid reason for his absence.

The appellant, a standardbred licensee, appealed a ruling that imposed a $750 fine and a 15-day suspension for treating a horse with unprescribed medications.

At the hearing, the appellant provided verbal reasons for wishing to withdraw his appeal.

The Panel accepted his reasons, permitted the withdrawal, and declined to assess costs against him.

The original penalty of a $750 fine and 15-day suspension was upheld.

The appellant, a standardbred licensee, appealed a $500 fine for supplying unprescribed medications to another participant's horse without seeing the animal or consulting a veterinarian.

The Ontario Racing Commission found that while the appellant's actions violated the rules regarding prescription drugs, his motivation to help a friend constituted a mitigating circumstance.

The appeal was denied, but the fine was reduced to $200.

The appellant, a standardbred driver, appealed a $300 fine and 5-day driving suspension for violating urging rules by raising his hand above his head and back beyond a 90-degree angle while driving.

The Ontario Racing Commission denied the appeal, finding clear evidence from the race film that the driver's arm was far enough back to constitute a violation, and upheld the penalty and the placing of the horse.

The appellant, a standardbred licensee, appealed a ruling by the Sudbury Judges suspending him for 45 days and imposing a $1,000 fine for inappropriately whipping and injuring a horse.

Following a judicial review that remitted the matter for a new hearing, the Ontario Racing Commission held a trial de novo.

The Commission found clear and convincing circumstantial evidence that the appellant inflicted severe welts on the horse with a whip.

The appeal was denied, and the penalty was increased to a 90-day full suspension, a $1,000 fine, two years of probation, and mandatory anger management.

The applicant appealed convictions for violations of the Standardbred Rules of Racing and a Notice of Proposed Order to refuse his licence application.

On consent, the applicant abandoned his appeals against the convictions, and the penalties were varied to include fines totalling $8,500 and consecutive suspensions.

The Administration withdrew the Notice of Proposed Order to refuse the licence application.

No costs were ordered.

The appellant, a standardbred licensee, appealed three rulings regarding violations of the Rules of Standardbred Racing.

After multiple adjournments due to the appellant's medical condition, a peremptory hearing was scheduled.

The appellant did not attend but was represented by an agent.

The appeal regarding the first violation was withdrawn on consent, and the penalty of a $2,000 fine and a 90-day consecutive suspension was confirmed.

The panel reluctantly granted a further adjournment for the remaining two appeals, setting a peremptory date and ordering $1,000 in costs against the appellant for the delay.

The appellant, a thoroughbred licensee, appealed a six-month suspension issued by the Stewards for an unsatisfactory ride.

At the hearing, the parties presented an Agreed Statement of Facts and Joint Submission on Disposition.

The Ontario Racing Commission accepted the joint submission, finding the appellant breached Rules 15.09.01 and 16.13(d) of the Rules of Thoroughbred Racing.

The appellant was suspended for 30 days and placed on probation for two years, with conditions requiring good behaviour and prohibiting unsportsmanlike conduct.

The licensee appealed a 1-year suspension and $6,000 fine imposed for a Class II positive for Ephedrine.

The Administration of the ORC sought an abridged penalty of 90 days and a $3,000 fine, noting that Ephedrine positives have been treated as Class III.

The Commission allowed the appeal in part, reducing the penalty to a 90-day suspension (with 30 days stayed), a $2,000 fine, and a two-year probation, emphasizing the trainer's responsibility to know the contents of administered products.

The appellant, a thoroughbred licensee, appealed a Stewards' ruling that denied an extension of her Apprentice Jockey Certificate after the three-year time limit expired.

The Ontario Racing Commission allowed the appeal, finding that extenuating medical circumstances justified granting an extension of her apprentice licence for the 2012 calendar year.

The appellant, a standardbred driver, appealed a ruling that imposed a $200 fine and a three-day driving suspension for indiscriminate and excessive use of the whip during a race.

The Ontario Racing Commission reviewed the race film and found clear evidence of excessive whip use.

The appeal was denied, the original penalty was upheld, and an additional $200 fine was imposed against the appellant for bringing a frivolous appeal.

The appellant appealed a Judges' ruling that placed his horse from 1st to 7th for causing confusion or interference among trailing horses by slowing down.

The Ontario Racing Commission found that the horse momentarily slowed down, causing confusion and interference in the back.

The appeal was denied and the Judges' ruling was upheld.