Horse Racing Appeal Panel
90 Sheppard Avenue East
Suite 300
Toronto ON M2N 0A4
Comité d’appel des courses de chevaux
90, avenue Sheppard Est
Bureau 300
Toronto ON M2N 0A4
HORSE RACING APPEAL PANEL
TORONTO, ONTARIO – MAY 8, 2026
SB HRAP 05015 2026
ORDER
IN THE MATTER OF THE HORSE RACING LICENCE ACT, S.O. 2015 C. 38 Sched. 9;
AND IN THE MATTER OF AN ADJOURNMENT REQUEST IN THE APPEAL OF RENE BOURASSA OF STANDARDBRED RULING NUMBER 3547463
Date of Issue:
May 8, 2026
Horse Racing Appeal Panel (Panel):
Stanley Sadinsky, K.C., Chair
Appellant:
Rene Bourassa
Appellant’s Counsel:
Jean-Marc MacKenzie
Registrar’s Counsel:
Adam West
Decision:
The Panel grants the request for an adjournment in addition to an extension of the stay, as set out below.
WHEREAS Rene Bourassa (“BOURASSA”) is licensed with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (“AGCO”) as an Owner/Trainer, Licence Number HPE2045;
WHEREAS on June 26, 2025, BOURASSA was the trainer of record for the horse, ROLL EM that finished 1st in Race 12 at Woodbine Mohawk Park on October 10, 2025;
AND WHEREAS the horse provided a blood sample identified by unique test tag number 532528323 and was in the EIPH program;
AND WHEREAS on October 15, 2025, the AGCO received a Certificate of TCO2 Analysis #00354 from Racing Forensics Inc. of Test Tag number 532528323, confirming total carbon dioxide (“TCO2”) at a concentration of 39.1 mmol/L;
AND WHEREAS BOURASSA violated Rules 22.38(b), 26.02.01, 26.02.02, and 26.02.03(d) of the Rules of Standardbred Racing (the “Rules”) and in accordance with Rules 4.02(i), 6.04, and 22.38.06 of the Rules and Policy Directive No. 1-2018, BOURASSA is suspended for a period of 90 days to be served from April 3, 2026 to July 1, 2026, inclusive and shall pay a monetary penalty of five thousand dollars ($5000.00);
AND WHEREAS in accordance with Rule 6.01(a) of the Rules, BOURASSA is prohibited from accessing association grounds, including the “Winner’s Circle”, with the exception of the grandstand, while their licence is suspended;
AND WHEREAS BOURASSA is required to complete the AGCO Equine Medication Use and Awareness Program before reinstatement and that all horses owned in whole or in part by BOURASSA are not eligible to race during the above-noted suspension period, in accordance with Rule 6.13.01 of the Rules. Any horses trained by BOURASSA are ineligible to race but may, with the consent of the AGCO Race Officials, be released to another trainer in good standing or sold, in accordance with rule 26.08 of the Rules and Policy Directive No. 2-2008;
AND WHEREAS any subsequent equine drug or TCO2 violation(s) by BOURASSA contrary to the Rules may result in the imposition of further monetary penalties, conditions, and/or suspensions and/or revocation of licence;
AND WHEREAS in accordance with Rules 9.13 and 18.08.01, ROLL EM was declared disqualified and all purse monies, driver fees and trainer’s fees are ordered returned to the Association for redistribution within fifteen (15) days of Standardbred ruling 3547463;
AND WHEREAS in accordance with Rule 6.14, any horses currently trained by BOURASSA must have valid trainer transfers approved prior to competing in Ontario during the period of the suspension and the order of finish shall be revised as set out in Standardbred Ruling 3547463;
AND WHEREAS on April 7, 2026, BOURASSA filed a Notice of Appeal and a Notice of Motion requesting a stay with the Panel;
AND WHEREAS the Registrar consented to the request for a stay, conditional upon the appeal hearing being scheduled for no later than 30 calendar days from the date of Decision on the request for a stay;
AND WHEREAS on April 10, 2026, the Panel granted the motion for a stay, conditional upon the appeal hearing being scheduled for no later than 30 calendar days from the date of the Decision on the request for a stay;
AND WHEREAS on May 5, 2026, the Registrar made a request for the adjournment of the May 8, 2026 hearing date, and for a Pre-Hearing Conference to proceed in its place, to which counsel for the Appellant consented;
AND WHEREAS on May 8, 2026, the Registrar consented to an extension of the stay until May 29, 2026;
TAKE NOTICE that the Panel grants the request for an adjournment of the May 8, 2026 hearing date for the Appeal, to a date to be determined and also grants an extension of the Stay granted on April 10, 2026 to May 29, 2026, all on consent.
DATED on this 8th day of May, 2026.
Stanley Sadinsky, K.C., Chair
Horse Racing Appeal Panel