Don Bourgeois

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.

Flamboro Downs Raceway applied for a teletheatre licence for a site in Burlington, Ontario.

The Ontario Racing Commission convened a hearing and denied the application.

Additionally, upon submission from the Administration, the Commission cancelled an existing teletheatre licence for a site in Hamilton, effective January 1, 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 Ontario Racing Commission heard applications from Fort Erie Racetrack for teletheatre licences at Buffy's Tavern and the Rex Hotel, locations previously licensed to Flamboro Downs.

Flamboro opposed the applications, arguing its contracts with the locations were still subsisting.

The Commission found that the previous licences had expired and that granting the applications to Fort Erie would separate the Hamilton and Niagara areas for teletheatre purposes, which was in the public interest.

The applications were granted.

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.

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.

The appellant appealed a decision of the Ontario Racing Industry Board of Appeal that rescinded the Judges' decision to place the horse DELCREST LAVEC from first to second for a passing lane violation.

The majority of the Ontario Racing Commission found that DELCREST LAVEC progressively occupied the extended inside lane, denying access to the trailing horse WHITESAND TITAN, which was in contention.

The Commission allowed the appeal, rescinded the Board of Appeal's decision, and restored the Judges' original order of finish.

Rideau Carleton Raceway applied for 127 days of live racing for 2002, which would involve a reduction of 21 live race dates from 2001 and eliminate winter racing for four months.

The application was opposed by the Ontario Harness Horse Association and local horsepeople, who argued that the lack of winter racing would severely impact their livelihoods and that there were no viable alternative venues in eastern Ontario.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the application without prejudice, noting the applicant's uncertainty regarding viable race dates and the failure to explore alternatives to mitigate the impact on horsepeople during the winter months.

Standardbred licensee William Cass appealed a ruling by the Judges at Windsor Raceway that placed his horse 5th and suspended him for 3 days for causing interference.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard testimony and dismissed the appeal.

The appellant, a standardbred licensee, appealed a ruling by the Judges at Western Fair Raceway that placed his horse 5th for violating Rule 22.05(h) by striking the wheels of another sulky.

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

The Ontario Racing Commission heard an application from Georgian Downs Limited for a racetrack operator's licence and racing dates for the new Georgian Downs Raceway.

The Commission approved the application, granting the licence, 17 live race dates, and 61 intertrack and off-track dates.

The Commission also approved the cancellation of existing teletheatre licences for Barrie Raceway and their transfer to Georgian Downs Raceway.

The Ontario Racing Commission held a hearing to consider applications for 2002 live and intertrack race dates from various racetracks across the province.

After hearing submissions from the applicants, the Administration, and horsemen's associations, the Commission approved the requested dates for thoroughbred, quarter horse, and standardbred racing, subject to certain conditions and undertakings regarding field sizes and racing opportunities.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard teletheatre applications from Flamboro Downs Raceway and Fort Erie Race Track.

The Commission granted a licence to Fort Erie for a site in Grimsby and to Flamboro for a site in Hamilton, but denied applications for sites in Welland and St. Catharines due to market saturation.

The Commission also made recommendations to the CPMA regarding the designation of exclusive Home Market Areas for teletheatres in the Hamilton and Niagara regions.

The Ontario Racing Commission convened to hear an application for a teletheatre licence from Flamboro Downs Raceway.

After hearing submissions from the applicant, Fort Erie Racetrack, and the Administration, the Commission approved the teletheatre licence for a site in Hamilton, Ontario, conditional upon Flamboro Downs advising the Administration of the opening date.

The appellant, a standardbred owner, driver, and trainer, appealed a judges' ruling that suspended him for 60 days and fined him $1,500 for a high TCO2 level in a horse he raced.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard testimony and dismissed the appeal, ratifying the penalty.

The Divisional Court remitted the issue of penalty for an equine drug offence back to the Ontario Racing Commission for rehearing.

The licensee brought a motion challenging the panel's jurisdiction under the new Racing Commission Act, 2000, which was dismissed.

Applying the Divisional Court's directive to treat the violation as a first offence under the new guidelines while still considering prior offences, the Commission imposed a 74-day suspension and a $1,000 fine.

Douglas Walters appealed a Judges' Ruling that suspended him for 180 days and fined him $2,000 after his horse tested positive for metaproterenol in two races.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal, upholding the 180-day suspension but reducing the fine to $1,500.

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 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.