John W. Macdonald

The appellants appealed a ruling regarding the order of finish in a standardbred horse race.

The Ontario Racing Commission reviewed the photo finish evidence and found it inconclusive as to what was protruding at the finish line.

As the Administration bore the onus to establish the result and failed to do so, the Commission exercised its discretion to declare a dead heat for third place, allowing the appeal and ordering the redistribution of purse money.

The appellant, a horse trainer, appealed penalties imposed after two horses tested positive for aminorex, a Class I drug.

The panel heard expert testimony that the only known source of aminorex, other than direct administration, was through levamisole, which was not implicated here.

Given the absolute liability rule but the lack of a determined source for the drug, the panel adjourned the appeal for six months to allow for further investigation into other potential causal links and alternative measures for dealing with aminorex positives.

A conditional stay of the penalties was granted in the interim.

The appellant applied for a reinstatement hearing after his licence was immediately suspended.

The Ontario Racing Commission panel accepted an Understanding Agreement between the Administration and the appellant.

Under the agreement, the appellant must obtain an assessment from a substance abuse professional and enter into a two-year post violation agreement.

A $1,000 fine was imposed but stayed, provided the appellant does not breach the agreement.

The appellant, whose licence was previously suspended, applied for a reinstatement hearing before the Ontario Racing Commission.

The panel adjourned the hearing to a later date to allow for the receipt of the appellant's latest test result, maintaining the suspension of his access to Ajax Downs and Woodbine in the interim.

The appellant, a long-time Clerk of the Scales for the Woodbine Entertainment Group, appealed a Notice of Proposed Order refusing to issue him a racing official licence.

The Ontario Racing Commission investigated allegations that the appellant failed to follow proper breathalyzer testing protocols for jockeys and accepted cash payments from jockeys.

The panel found that the appellant failed to adhere to breathalyzer protocols and that accepting payments from jockeys compromised the integrity of his position.

The appeal was denied, and the refusal to issue the licence was upheld.

The appellant appealed against a ruling concerning a failure to promptly report to the test barn after a race.

At the hearing, the appellant requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Panel allowed the request to withdraw the appeal, noting the importance of promptly reporting to the test barn to ensure the integrity of testing.

The appellant jockey appealed a three-day riding suspension imposed for impeding another horse during a race.

The Ontario Racing Commission reviewed the video and testimony, concluding that the appellant's left-handed hitting pushed her horse out several lanes, causing interference with another horse.

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

The appellant, a jockey, appealed a three-day riding suspension to the Ontario Racing Commission.

The suspension was issued after an incident where the appellant's horse knocked another horse into the rail.

The panel reviewed the evidence, including video footage, and concluded that the suspension was warranted.

The appeal was denied, and the suspension was ordered to be served at the beginning of the 2014 thoroughbred racing season.

The appellant appealed a ruling disqualifying his horse for interference during a standardbred race.

The Ontario Racing Commission panel denied the appeal, finding that the Judges properly exercised their discretion under Rule 22.09 of the Rules of Standardbred Racing.

Once the Judges determined that interference occurred and decided to place the offending horse back, the rule mandated that it be placed behind the horse with which it interfered.

The appellant, a standardbred driver, appealed a ruling that found he violated the urging rules by excessively using his whip during a race.

The Ontario Racing Commission panel reviewed the video evidence and found that the appellant hit the horse excessively in the stretch, including between the legs.

The panel emphasized that the urging rules exist for animal welfare and public perception.

The appeal was denied, and the penalty of a $500 fine and a 15-day driving suspension for a third offence was upheld.

The appellant appealed a 3-day driving suspension and a placing from 1st to 3rd for forcing another horse three wide during a standardbred race.

The Ontario Racing Commission reviewed the video and testimony, concluding that the appellant did force the other horse to change course.

The appeal was dismissed and the suspension and placing were upheld.

The appellant jockey appealed a 3-day riding suspension imposed for a riding infraction (clipping heels) during a thoroughbred race.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal, finding that the video evidence and testimony supported the occurrence of the infraction, which posed a significant safety risk, and upheld the standard 3-day suspension.

The appellant appealed a $200 fine imposed because his horse was late going to the test barn.

The appellant failed to appear at the scheduled hearing.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal, upheld the fine, and referred the matter to the Deputy Director for follow-up regarding the appellant's failure to appear.

The appellant appealed a ruling and $200 fine for failing to take a horse directly to the test barn.

The appellant argued that there was confusion and reliance on a security guard.

The Commissioner noted the importance of the rule for the integrity of testing, but acknowledged the mitigating factors and the lack of significant delay.

The appeal was denied, but the fine was reduced to $100.

The appellants appealed a ruling that resulted in a placing change and a three-day suspension for interference during a thoroughbred race.

The panel found that the appellant's horse drifted out and impeded the second-place horse, violating Rule 11.07 of the Rules of Thoroughbred Racing.

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

The appellant appealed a 10-day driving suspension imposed for violating racing rules by impeding the progress of another horse and striking wheels.

The Ontario Racing Commission found that the appellant failed to pull out or control his horse when the horse ahead was tiring, resulting in a collision and injury to another driver.

The appeal was denied and the 10-day suspension was upheld as reasonable.

The appellant appealed a three-day driving suspension and the placing of his horse from first to fourth due to an interference infraction under Rule 22.05.01(a) of the Rules of Standardbred Racing.

The Ontario Racing Commission reviewed the race video and found that the appellant's horse came up underneath another horse whose path was already established, causing interference.

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

Douglas McNair appealed against Ruling Number SB 45854.

At the hearing, the Ontario Racing Commission granted an adjournment of the matter to a date to be determined by the Administration.

The appellant, Robert Sparling Jr., appealed a $100 penalty imposed by the Judges for his involvement in an altercation with another participant following a race.

The Ontario Racing Commission denied the appeal, finding that both parties bore responsibility for the incident and that such conduct is detrimental to the sport.

The panel noted the appeal bordered on frivolous given the amount involved and the clear evidence of an altercation.

The appellant appealed against several rulings of the Ontario Racing Commission.

At the hearing, the appellant sought to withdraw the appeal.

The Commission allowed the withdrawal, confirmed the original rulings, and assessed $1,000 in costs against the appellant due to the late notice of withdrawal.