Patricia Bullock

Standardbred owner Marvin Chantler appealed a decision of the Standardbred Industry Appeal Board, which found that his horse interfered with another horse during a race and altered the order of finish.

The Ontario Racing Commission panel heard evidence, reviewed the race videotape, and dismissed the appeal, upholding the revised order of finish.

The respondent, a standardbred trainer and driver, was suspended by the Director of Racing for a violation related to prohibited substances.

Following a hearing before a panel of the Ontario Racing Commission, the panel ordered that the respondent be suspended from driving for six months.

The panel also imposed conditions on the respondent, including a requirement to enroll in a drug rehabilitation program, provide weekly urine samples, and submit to testing by the Commission's drug testing unit.

The licensee, a standardbred owner, trainer, and driver, sought reinstatement of his licences after they were suspended due to a positive test for a cocaine metabolite.

The licensee had a history of human drug violations and was on probation at the time of the positive test.

He claimed he did not intentionally ingest cocaine and suggested his drink may have been spiked at a party.

The Ontario Racing Commission rejected this theory, concluding the drug was ingested during a heavy drinking session.

Acknowledging the licensee's progress in recovery, the Commission ordered the licences to remain suspended until May 31, 2003, and imposed conditions for reinstatement, including completion of an outpatient support program and extended probation.

The appellants, a thoroughbred trainer and an owner, appealed suspensions and fines imposed by the Stewards for their alleged involvement in the hidden ownership of a racehorse.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the owner's appeal, finding clear evidence of his involvement in an unregistered partnership and hidden ownership.

However, the Commission granted the trainer's appeal, concluding there was insufficient evidence to prove he knew of the hidden ownership arrangement.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard applications from Quinte Exhibition and Raceway, Kawartha Downs Raceway, and Sudbury Raceway for their 2003 live and intertrack race dates.

The Commission approved the requested dates for Quinte Exhibition.

For Kawartha Downs, the Commission approved the dates and a proposal to reconstruct the track into a dual-purpose facility for horse and car racing, subject to strict pre-conditions regarding facility improvements and track maintenance.

For Sudbury Raceway, the Commission approved a reduced 66-day schedule but required a revised calendar to extend the racing season over eight months rather than concentrating days in the summer, balancing the track's financial concerns with the horsemen's need for an extended season.

The Administration of the Ontario Racing Commission appealed a decision of the Ontario Racing Industry Board of Appeal, which had ordered the Administration to compensate a licensee $150 for his attendance at a hearing.

The Ontario Racing Commission allowed the appeal and overturned the compensation order, giving oral reasons.

The Ontario Racing Commission held a rehearing on penalty for a Standardbred trainer whose horse tested positive for a Class III drug.

The original penalty of a two-year suspension and $25,000 fine was quashed on judicial review, with directions to treat the violation as a first offence under the New Guidelines while retaining discretion to consider the trainer's prior record.

Considering the trainer's history of drug offences and the circumstances of the positive test, the Commission imposed a 10-month full suspension and a $50,000 fine, crediting time already served.

Thoroughbred Owner/Trainer Tom Marino appealed a ruling of the Thoroughbred Industry Appeal Board that upheld the Stewards' decision not to disqualify the horse BARBELLA for alleged interference during a race.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal after hearing testimony from stewards, jockeys, and owners.

Jockey Constant Montpellier appealed a decision of the Thoroughbred Industry Appeal Board upholding a three-day suspension for violating TB Rule 9.01 by failing to demonstrate the best and fastest race his mount was capable of.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal, finding that the jockey committed an error in judgment that prevented his mount from demonstrating its best race, but varied the penalty to a one-day suspension.

The applicant, a standardbred licensee, requested a hearing before the Ontario Racing Commission for the reinstatement of his licence.

The Commission ordered that his trainer licence remain suspended for a further three months, while his owner licence was reinstated subject to a prohibition on training his own horses during the suspension period.

Both licences were placed on probation for nine months, and the applicant was ordered to submit to mandatory drug testing.

The standardbred licensee appealed the suspension of his licence after testing positive for THC carboxylic acid.

The Ontario Racing Commission reinstated his licence subject to strict conditions, including mandatory enrollment in a drug rehabilitation program, regular progress reports, mandatory drug testing at race tracks, and a written undertaking to abstain from non-prescription drugs.

Failure to comply with any condition will result in immediate suspension.

Rexdale Stables and John Cardella appealed a ruling of the Thoroughbred Industry Appeal Board, which found that a jockey's whip contacted the nose of another horse, violating TB Rule 11.09.2.

The Board had amended the official order of finish to place the offending horse second.

The Ontario Racing Commission panel heard evidence from the steward, owners, and jockeys, and dismissed the appeal by a majority decision, confirming the amended order of finish.

Jon Farrington, a standardbred owner/driver/trainer, was suspended for six months and fined $1,000 for possessing a needle and syringe at the Paris Fair.

After his appeal to the Standardbred Canada Appeal Board was dismissed, he requested a hearing before the Ontario Racing Commission to review the penalty.

The Commission dismissed his request but adjusted the suspension dates to account for an earlier stay, resulting in a prohibition from participating in regulated activities from January 22 to July 10, 2002.

The appellant, a thoroughbred owner and trainer, appealed a Stewards' Ruling fining him $3,500 for a positive test for the prohibited Class IV drug dextrorphan in a horse.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard testimony from a steward, a groom, and the appellant.

The Commission granted the appeal and provided oral reasons on the record.

The appellant, a standardbred driver, appealed the suspension of his driver's licence after testing positive for a cocaine metabolite.

The Ontario Racing Commission determined that it was premature to reinstate the licence.

The suspension remains in effect until the Administration is satisfied that the appellant has completed a rehabilitation program and adequately dealt with his addiction problem.

The appellant's owner/trainer licence was not suspended.

Driver/Trainer Sandy Jones appealed a decision of the Standardbred Industry Appeal Board upholding a ten-day driving suspension for driving in a careless or reckless manner.

The Ontario Racing Commission panel heard evidence and dismissed the appeal, with reasons given orally.

Standardbred driver/trainer Sandy Jones appealed a decision of the Standardbred Industry Appeal Board upholding a five-day driving suspension for indiscriminate whip use.

The Ontario Racing Commission panel heard evidence and dismissed the appeal, providing oral reasons.

Rideau Carleton Raceway applied to the Ontario Racing Commission for approval of its 2002 live and intertrack race dates, as well as dates for all off-track locations.

After hearing submissions from the applicant, the Administration, the Ontario Harness Horse Association, and the Association Trot et Amble du Québec, the Commission approved the application.

Jockey Michael McMullen appealed a decision of the Thoroughbred Industry Appeal Board which upheld a three-day suspension for interfering with another horse during a race.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard evidence and allowed the appeal, delivering its reasons orally.

The applicant requested a hearing before a panel of the Ontario Racing Commission to be reinstated as an Association Official in accordance with Standardbred Ruling 137/2001.

After hearing evidence and submissions, the panel declined to reinstate her licence.