The appellant, a standardbred licensee, appealed the penalty of a 60-day suspension and $1,500 fine imposed after a horse he trained tested positive for an elevated TCO2 level.
The appellant argued for a reduced penalty based on his good character, the likelihood of a feeding error due to his busy stable, and precedents where lesser penalties were given.
The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal, emphasizing that the public interest and the integrity of racing require strict adherence to the trainer responsibility rules and uniform enforcement of minimum penalty guidelines.
