Thomas Deacon

The owners of a three-year-old trotting colt appealed a decision by the Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association (OHRIA) excluding the colt from the 2003 Ontario Sires Stakes Program for failure to make a sustaining payment.

The owners argued that the sudden death of the managing partner, who had failed to properly register the ownership transfer, constituted extenuating circumstances justifying an exception.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal by a majority decision, finding that the remaining owners had ample opportunity to ensure the payment was made and that the circumstances did not warrant waiving the program's conditions.

Standardbred trainer Curt Bond appeared before the Ontario Racing Commission following an indefinite suspension by the Judges at Flamboro Downs for violating Rules 6.38(f) and 5.11.

The panel found that Bond violated the rules but varied the penalty to a one-month suspension, maintaining previous licence conditions upon reinstatement.

Standardbred owner, driver, and trainer Orlie Coville appealed a Judges' Ruling that fined him $1,500 and suspended him for 60 days following two positive drug tests for ephedrine and related substances in his horses.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal, ratifying the $1,500 fine and the 60-day suspension, but ordered that the last 30 days of the suspension be stayed.

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 appellant, a standardbred owner/driver/trainer, appealed a ruling that fined him $5,000 and suspended him for one year following a positive test result for Furosemide on a horse.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal and upheld the penalty, with the suspension to run from December 9, 2002, to December 8, 2003.

The applicant appeared before the Ontario Racing Commission seeking reinstatement of his Standardbred licence in the category of Groom.

His licence had been suspended in 1991 for conduct prejudicial to racing.

After hearing evidence and submissions, the panel determined that the applicant could be reinstated as a licensee.

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.

The appellant, a thoroughbred owner and trainer, appealed a Stewards' Ruling that suspended his licence for one year for causing the falsification of the transfer of ownership on a foal certificate.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard the appeal and dismissed it, upholding the one-year suspension and allowing the horse to be removed from the Stewards' List at their discretion.

The appellant, a standardbred owner/trainer, appealed a Judges' Ruling that suspended her for 15 days and fined her $1,000 for a positive test for furosemide in a horse she trained.

At the hearing, the parties presented a joint submission on penalty.

The Ontario Racing Commission accepted the joint submission and varied the penalty to a 10-day full suspension and a $500 fine.

Standardbred owner and trainer Lisa Vanderwal appeared before the Ontario Racing Commission seeking reinstatement of her licence after being suspended, fined, and placed on probation due to a positive test from a horse she trained.

The Commission ordered the reinstatement of her licence subject to several strict conditions, including mandatory paddock attendance, a restriction on the number of horses in her stable, and mandatory access for Commission enforcement personnel.

The conditions remain in effect until the expiration of her probation period.

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.

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 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.

The appellant, a thoroughbred trainer, appealed a Stewards' decision suspending him for 60 days and fining him $1,500 after a horse he trained tested positive for a prohibited Class III drug.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal, upholding the suspension and fine.

Oral reasons were provided separately.

The appellants, a thoroughbred trainer and two owners, appealed a ruling that fined the trainer $1,000 and ordered the return of second-place purse monies after their horse failed to attend the TCO2 testing area.

The Ontario Racing Commission panel upheld the $1,000 fine against the trainer but ordered that the second-place purse monies be distributed to the owners.

Thoroughbred owner Robert Saviola and trainer Don Macrae appealed the decision of the ORC Stewards to declare the 9th race at Fort Erie Racetrack on September 16, 2001, as a dead heat.

The Ontario Racing Commission panel allowed the appeal, determining that the proper order of finish was Nabethian first and Sweeping Eva second.

The appellant jockey appealed two rulings of the Stewards suspending him for five days each for indiscriminate use and misuse of his whip, specifically for striking his mounts on the belly during two separate races.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard testimony from the Stewards, a veterinarian, a trainer, and the appellant.

The Commission dismissed the appeal but varied the penalty, reducing the suspension to a total of three days applicable to both violations.

The appellant appealed a Judges' Ruling that placed his horse 4th instead of 3rd for failing to lose ground on a break during a race.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard testimony and upheld the appeal, providing oral reasons.

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

The Ontario Racing Commission reinstated the appellant's licence subject to strict conditions, including the successful completion of a substance abuse program, weekly urine testing at his own expense, and mandatory participation in random testing at any track where he is present.

The appellant, a thoroughbred owner and trainer, appealed a Stewards' Ruling that suspended him for 30 days and fined him $1,000 after his horse tested positive for the prohibited drug cromoglycate.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal and confirmed the penalty.