John W. Macdonald

The Ontario Harness Horse Association (OHHA), Great Canadian Gaming Corporation (GCGC), and the Northern Horsemen's Association (NHA) appealed the Director's decisions regarding the 2011 Ontario Racing Program.

OHHA and GCGC challenged the reduction of race dates and the redistribution of purse funds under the newly implemented Race Date Framework.

The Commission upheld the Director's decisions regarding race dates and purse redistribution, finding that the Framework was a necessary, industry-wide strategy to revitalize standardbred racing by aligning horse supply with customer demand.

The NHA's appeal for additional December race dates at Sudbury Downs was granted in part to mitigate the hardship of a lengthy closed season.

The Ontario Harness Horse Association, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, and the Northern Horsemen’s Association appealed the Director's decision regarding the 2011 Ontario Racing Program.

The appeals concerned the minimum number of race dates, scheduling, and redistribution of purse monies at certain racetracks.

The Ontario Racing Commission denied the appeals of OHHA and GCGC, but varied the decision for NHA by adding three race dates in December and dropping two dates for Sudbury Downs, resulting in 66 live race dates for 2011.

The appellant, a licensed thoroughbred trainer, appealed a Stewards' Ruling suspending him for 45 days and fining him $1,500 after a horse he trained tested positive for the Class III drug Acepromazine.

The appellant argued his Charter rights were violated because the blood sample sent to an independent laboratory arrived frozen and could not be tested.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the Charter motion, finding the appellant was not denied the opportunity to make full answer and defence.

The Commission upheld the penalty, emphasizing the strict trainer responsibility rule and finding the appellant failed to properly guard the horse, as the drug was found in his unlocked tack room.

The appellant, Bruno Schickedanz, appealed a decision by Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) to suspend his stabling and racing privileges after his 13-year-old horse, Wake at Noon, was euthanized following a breakdown during a workout.

The Ontario Racing Commission found that WEG acted appropriately in the public interest and to protect the health and welfare of horses.

The Commission held that WEG's exercise of its private property rights to exclude the appellant was reasonable and that no basis for ORC intervention was established.

The appeal was dismissed.

The appellant, a standardbred licensee, appealed a 15-day suspension and $1,500 fine imposed for an altercation with another licensee in the grandstand at Kawartha Downs.

The Ontario Racing Commission panel found that the altercation was retaliatory and occurred in a public place, potentially causing security issues.

The panel denied the appeal and upheld the suspension and fine.

The appellant, a standardbred driver, appealed a judges' ruling that fined him $200 and suspended him for three days for failing to keep his whip within the confines of the wheels during a race, contrary to Rule 22.23.03(c).

The Ontario Racing Commission upheld the violation, finding that the driver made a whipping motion outside the confines of the wheels.

The Commission denied the appeal of the fine but varied the penalty by staying the three-day suspension for one year, provided the driver commits no further violations of the rule during that time.

The applicant raceway appealed a decision by the Deputy Director of the Ontario Racing Commission declining its application to vacate race dates in June and early October and apply them over the winter months.

The Commission allowed the appeal, finding that the applicant had successfully followed Policy Directive No. 3-2007.

The applicant's amended application for 130 race dates in 2010 was approved, noting the support of other regional raceways and the Ontario Harness Horse Association.