Lynda Tanaka

The appellant, a licensed standardbred owner, appealed two rulings by racetrack judges suspending his licence and imposing a fine for using improper language and engaging in misconduct prejudicial to the best interests of racing during two separate altercations.

The Ontario Racing Commission upheld the findings of liability, noting the appellant's aggressive and threatening behaviour towards other licensees.

However, the Commission allowed the appeal in part regarding penalty, reducing the total suspension to 20 racing days and the fine to $3,000, while imposing a one-year probationary period.

The Ontario Racing Commission met to review race date applications for the 2005 season.

After reviewing written submissions, the Commission approved the live standardbred race dates and intertrack/simulcast dates for Sudbury Downs Raceway, Quinte Exhibition & Raceway, New Hiawatha Horse Park, and Western Fair Raceway.

All post times were approved as applied for.

Macranald Enterprises Inc. applied for 54 live race dates for Sudbury Downs Raceway for the 2005 season, representing a significant reduction from previous years.

The Northern Horseman's Association opposed the reduction.

The Ontario Racing Commission found that the track did not satisfactorily justify the reduction in live race dates.

The Commission noted that live racing enhances simulcast and slot revenues, and that reducing race days would limit opportunities for horsemen and supporting businesses.

The Commission declined to approve the application and encouraged the track to file an amended application consistent with the slots program's aims.

Woodbine Entertainment Group applied for a teletheatre licence for a site in Vaughan, Ontario, known as WEGZ Stadium Bar.

The Ontario Racing Commission granted the licence subject to the condition that the Executive Director receives a satisfactory Investigation Report.

If the report is unsatisfactory, the Executive Director may revoke the licence or impose additional conditions.

Woodbine Entertainment Group applied for 2005 Thoroughbred race dates.

The Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association requested the Commission mandate a ship-in date of no later than February 15, 2005, to allow 60 days for training.

The Commission approved the race dates as applied for, declining to intervene in the ship-in date dispute, finding it was a matter for negotiation between the parties rather than regulatory determination.

Jockey Jonathan Jones appealed a Stewards Ruling that found him in violation of the Rules of Thoroughbred Racing for interfering with another horse during a race.

The Stewards had suspended him for three racing days and disqualified his horse from second to fifth position.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal, confirming the order of finish and the three-day suspension.

The Administration brought a motion to determine if the Commission should hold a hearing regarding the appeal of a Standardbred Judges' ruling that indefinitely suspended Caroline Robinson's licence for failing to produce documents.

The parties reached an agreement whereby the Administration would lift the suspension effective November 1, 2004, in exchange for Robinson's cooperation in providing documents.

A new request for documents with updated reasons will be issued by the Commission investigator.

The Ontario Racing Commission held a hearing regarding Standardbred Driver/Trainer/Owner Carver Sullivan.

The Commission ordered that his licence be fully suspended until July 31, 2005, with his driver's licence suspended for an additional 6 months.

Upon return, his licences will be subject to probation and strict conditions, including completion of a rehabilitation program, weekly urine testing, and abstention from non-prescription drugs.

The Ontario Racing Commission met to review applications for the 2005 live and intertrack race dates.

The Commission approved the requested live standardbred, live thoroughbred, and intertrack/simulcast race dates for various racetracks across Ontario, along with all applied-for post times.

The appellant, a standardbred licensee, appealed rulings imposing a fine and suspension.

During the hearing de novo, the Administration sought to call the Senior Judge who made the rulings to testify about the hearing events and penalty rationale.

The appellant objected on grounds of relevance and lack of disclosure of all similar past rulings.

The Commission ruled the judge's evidence was relevant and admissible.

It further held that the Administration was not required to disclose all past rulings, but only needed to provide a will-say statement of the penalty rationale and copies of any previous rulings actually taken into account by the judges.

The licensee, a standardbred owner, trainer, and driver, requested a hearing after his license was indefinitely suspended due to a positive test for a cocaine metabolite.

At the hearing, the licensee argued the positive result was a false positive caused by prescription medication taken for injuries sustained in a racing accident, and raised a procedural defense regarding the lack of contact from a Medical Review Officer.

The Commission rejected both defenses, finding the licensee failed to provide sufficient evidence linking the prescription medication to the cocaine metabolite and that the procedural argument did not invalidate the test.

The Commission suspended the licensee until June 30, 2005, followed by an 18-month probation, and required completion of a drug rehabilitation program.

A standardbred licensee appealed a judges' decision under the Rules of Standardbred Racing to place his horse fourth for causing interference during a race.

The Ontario Racing Commission convened to hear the appeal and received evidence from multiple witnesses.

The Commission dismissed the appeal, with the Vice-Chair dissenting, and confirmed the original placement of the horses in the order of finish.

The appellant, a standardbred owner and trainer, appealed a 60-day suspension and $10,000 fine imposed for allowing a suspended trainer to jog a horse for which the appellant was the trainer of record.

The Ontario Racing Commission allowed the appeal in part, reducing the suspension to 21 days and the fine to $7,500.

The appellant, a thoroughbred owner and trainer, appealed a Stewards' ruling fining him $2,000 for failing to have written agreements with owners and failing to comply with an undertaking.

The appellant failed to appear at the scheduled hearing before the Ontario Racing Commission.

The Commission dismissed the appeal and confirmed the Stewards' ruling, ordering the appellant to pay the $2,000 fine before participating in racing again.

Jockey Constant Montpellier appealed a Stewards Ruling finding him in violation of the Rules of Thoroughbred Racing for unsportsmanlike conduct after failing to take a horse for a veterinarian inspection prior to a race.

The Ontario Racing Commission allowed the appeal.

The appellant, a standardbred driver/owner/trainer, appealed two Judges Rulings to the Ontario Racing Commission.

The first ruling found him in violation of rules regarding possession of injectables, conduct injurious to racing, and withholding information, resulting in a 6-month suspension and a $6,000 fine.

The second ruling fined him $500 for failing to set out terms of engagement in trainer contracts.

The Commission allowed the first appeal in part, finding no violation for possession of injectables but upholding the violations for conduct injurious to racing and withholding information.

The penalty was reduced to a 120-day suspension and a $3,000 fine.

The second appeal was abandoned, and the $500 fine remained in effect.

The appellant, a standardbred owner/driver/trainer, appealed a decision suspending his licence for one year and fining him $5,000 for a positive TCO2 test on a horse.

The appellant failed to appear at the scheduled hearing despite receiving notice.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal as abandoned and ordered the suspension and fine to be continued.

Winrac Developments Inc. applied to the Ontario Racing Commission to vary the 2004 Race Day schedule for Woodstock Raceway and to amend the 2004 Backstretch Improvement Plan regarding the paddock.

The Commission approved the amended business plan and reconfirmed the race date schedule on consent.

The Commission also ordered that the Stakes barn floor be properly covered to ensure safety prior to May 28, 2004, and warned of severe penalties for failure to comply with the amended business plan.

Thoroughbred owner Lynda Elliot-Griem appealed a decision of the Ontario Racing Industry Board of Appeal, which upheld the Stewards' decision to disqualify her horse from first to eighth place due to interference caused by the jockey.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal.

The appellant jockey appealed a decision of the Ontario Racing Industry Board of Appeal, which upheld a five-day suspension imposed by the Stewards for interference during a race.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard the appeal alongside the horse owner's appeal.

After hearing evidence from the Stewards and other witnesses, the Commission dismissed the appeal and ordered the five-day suspension to be served.