Lynda Tanaka

The appellants, an owner/trainer, owner/groom, and hotwalker, appealed Stewards' Rulings finding them in violation of Rule 15.11.1 of the Rules of Thoroughbred Racing for uttering offensive and racial remarks and threatening another licensee.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeals, upholding the findings and penalties, which included fines and a 30-day suspension for the owner/trainer.

The Commission accepted the evidence of the threatened licensee and found the appellants' denials lacked credibility.

The appellants, a horse trainer and a groom, appealed a Stewards' ruling that found the trainer violated the Rules of Thoroughbred Racing by improperly transferring ownership of a horse from the owner to his son using his authorized agent privileges.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal regarding liability and the transfer of the horse back to the original owner, finding the trainer breached his duty to the owner by acting without proper authority and preferring his family's interests.

The Commission upheld the $5,000 fine but modified the trainer's suspension to run from July 1 to December 31, 2005.

The Ontario Racing Commission convened to hear a teletheatre licence application from Rideau Carleton Raceway.

Upon hearing submissions from the applicant and the Administration, the Commission approved the teletheatre licence for the site at 1475 Richmond Road, Ottawa, operated by Vincent Roland Bergeron (Royal Britannia Pub), effective June 23, 2005.

The Director issued a Notice of Proposed Order to revoke the licence of Standardbred Owner/Trainer/Driver Brian Lawson.

At the hearing, the parties consented to an adjournment sine die based on the respondent's undertaking not to re-apply for a licence for nine months and to provide 30 days' notice before any subsequent application.

The Commission accepted the undertaking and ordered the hearing adjourned sine die.

Standardbred Licensee David MacNabb requested a hearing before the Ontario Racing Commission regarding the Executive Director's Notice of Proposed Order to refuse to issue a licence.

After hearing from both parties and witnesses, the Commission confirmed the Executive Director's Notice of Proposed Order to refuse to issue a licence.

The Commission provided oral reasons for its decision on the record.

Standardbred owner Rick Cauvier requested a hearing regarding a Notice of Proposed Order to revoke his licence.

The Ontario Racing Commission confirmed the Executive Director's decision to revoke the licence, but delayed the effective date to allow Mr. Cauvier to sell or transfer his horses with the prior consent of the judges at Rideau-Carlton Raceway.

The appellants, a thoroughbred trainer and an owner/groom, brought a motion to adjourn their appeal from a prior ruling.

The Ontario Racing Commission granted the adjournment, making it peremptory on the appellants to proceed on the new date.

However, the Commission lifted the existing stay of penalty against the trainer, suspending his licence and barring him from the backstretch pending the resumption of the hearing.

The appellant, a standardbred licensee, appealed a suspension under Rule 6.38 of the Rules of Standardbred Racing.

Following an adjournment to allow the appellant to retain counsel, the Ontario Racing Commission heard the appeal based on an Agreed Statement of Facts.

The Commission reinstated the appellant's driver's licence subject to a 180-day suspension and a one-year probation period.

During probation, the appellant must submit to random drug testing, with any positive or improper sample resulting in an immediate full suspension.

The appellants appealed Judges' Rulings finding them in violation of various Rules of Standardbred Racing related to hidden trainers and misleading investigators.

The Ontario Racing Commission granted the appeals regarding the hidden trainer allegations, finding that the named trainer did perform sufficient duties to be considered the trainer of record.

However, the Commission upheld the findings that the appellants misled investigators and submitted false licence applications.

Fines were imposed and licences suspended until payment.

The Ontario Racing Commission convened a hearing to review teletheatre licence applications from Flamboro Downs Raceway, Ontario Teletheatre Network, and Woodbine Entertainment Group.

The Commission approved three new teletheatre licences at locations in Hamilton, Newmarket, and Kitchener, subject to certain conditions such as receipt of liquor licences and photographs.

The Commission also cancelled an existing teletheatre licence in Newmarket.

The licensee, a standardbred driver, trainer, and owner, tested positive for THC Carboxylic Acid.

The Director of Racing indefinitely suspended his licences pending a hearing.

Following a hearing before the Ontario Racing Commission, the panel ordered his licences fully suspended for three months and his driver's licence suspended for one year, including prohibitions on driving, warming up, and parading horses.

The Director of Racing indefinitely suspended the respondent's standardbred driver licence after he tested positive for THC Carboxylic Acid.

Following a hearing, the Ontario Racing Commission ordered an eight-month suspension (with two months stayed), required the respondent to enroll in an ongoing treatment program, and placed his licence on probation for one year.

The respondent, a standardbred licensee, tested positive for a cocaine metabolite.

Following a hearing, the Ontario Racing Commission suspended his trainer and ferrier licences for three months, and his driver and starter licences for one year (with three months stayed).

The Commission also ordered him to complete a treatment program and placed his licences on probation for one year.

Picov Downs Inc. applied for approval of 20 days of live quarter horse racing and intertrack dates for the 2005 season.

The Ontario Racing Commission approved the application, subject to conditions requiring the applicant to provide detailed plans and timelines for the construction of new backstretch and racing facilities, and ensuring that the existing facilities are appropriate for regulatory staff and horses.

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.