Frank Roth

The Ontario Harness Horse Association and Central Ontario Standardbred Association appealed an order of the executive director.

The Ontario Racing Commission panel issued procedural directions for an upcoming hearing, including notifying other industry parties to determine their participation.

The panel also scheduled a motion to quash a subpoena and ordered that the executive director's January 7, 2016 order be stayed until the conclusion of the hearing relating to the SRA funds.

The appellants appealed a ruling that resulted in a placing change and a three-day suspension for interference during a thoroughbred race.

The panel found that the appellant's horse drifted out and impeded the second-place horse, violating Rule 11.07 of the Rules of Thoroughbred Racing.

The appeal was denied, the placing was maintained, and the three-day suspension was upheld.

The appellant, Bruno Schickedanz, appealed a decision by Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) to suspend his stabling and racing privileges after his 13-year-old horse, Wake at Noon, was euthanized following a breakdown during a workout.

The Ontario Racing Commission found that WEG acted appropriately in the public interest and to protect the health and welfare of horses.

The Commission held that WEG's exercise of its private property rights to exclude the appellant was reasonable and that no basis for ORC intervention was established.

The appeal was dismissed.

The appellants appealed a decision of the Ontario Racing Commission Judges fining them $17,343.50 each for violating Standardbred Rule 15.09(a) by racing a claimed horse outside of Ontario within 60 days of the claim.

The appellants argued the rule was ambiguous and the officials lacked authority to impose the fine.

The Commission denied the appeal, finding the officials had delegated authority and the penalty policy was clear and appropriate to prevent profiting from rule violations.

However, the Commission reduced the fines to $8,671.75 each due to mitigating factors, including the appellants' good records and the horse's immediate return to Ontario.

The Ontario Harness Horse Association (OHHA) requested a hearing regarding the actions of Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) and the Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA).

WEG brought a motion arguing that the Ontario Racing Commission lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter.

The Panel granted WEG's motion, finding that the Commission had no jurisdiction, and dismissed OHHA's application.

The appellant appealed the Judges' decision to scratch his horse, SCULLY FBI, and the eligibility of two other horses, due to the trainer's suspension by the New Jersey Racing Commission.

The Ontario Racing Commission allowed the appeal subject to conditions requiring the appellant to provide proof of a stay of the New Jersey suspension or issued proceedings for a stay application within specified timeframes.

The moving parties, licensees in the horse racing industry, brought a motion to exclude statements and documents compelled by the Administration of the Ontario Racing Commission during an investigation.

They argued that the compulsion violated sections 7, 11, and 13 of the Charter.

The Commission panel dismissed the motion, finding that the Charter sections did not apply to the regulatory investigation, as the proceedings did not involve true penal consequences and did not engage liberty or security interests.

The panel ruled the evidence admissible, noting that even if a Charter breach occurred, the evidence would not be excluded under section 24(2).