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 19, 2026
SB HRAP 05018 2026
ORDER
IN THE MATTER OF THE HORSE RACING LICENCE ACT, S.O. 2015 C. 38 Sched. 9;
AND IN THE MATTER OF A REQUEST BY NICHOLAS STEWARD TO WITHDRAW THE APPEAL OF STANDARDBRED RULING NUMBER 3623478
Date of Issue:
May 19, 2026
Horse Racing Appeal Panel (Panel):
Stanley Sadinsky, K.C., Chair
Appellant:
Nicholas Steward
Decision:
The Panel acknowledges the withdrawal of the appeal, on consent.
WHEREAS Nicholas Steward (“STEWARD”) is licensed with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (“Commission”) as an Owner/Driver/Trainer, Licence Number DRV1312887;
AND WHEREAS on March 25, 2026, Commission Racing Officials issued Standardbred Ruling Number 3623478 which rescinds and replaces Standardbred Ruling Number 3607685 issued on March 13, 2026;
AND WHEREAS on March 10, 2026 while driving the horse ARUNDEL HANOVER in the 4th race at Western Fair Raceway, STEWARD did fail to keep both feet in the stirrups, this being STEWARD’s 4th violation of Rule 22.19 of the Rules of Standardbred Racing (RULES) within twelve months, with the previous Rulings issued as follows:
On April 28, 2025, STEWARD was issued Ruling Number 3112829 as a result of a first violation of Rule 22.19 in Race 3 at Western Fair Raceway on April 28, 2025. with a monetary penalty of $100.
On May 17, 2025, STEWARD was issued Ruling Number 3148913, as a result of a second violation of Rule 22.19 in Race 5 at Hiawatha Horse Park on May 3, 2025, with a monetary penalty of $300 and a five (5) day suspension.
On March 13, 2026, STEWARD was issued Ruling Number 3607652, as a result of a third violation of Rule 22.19 in Race 10 at Western Fair Raceway on March 3, 2026. with a monetary penalty of $500 and a fifteen (15) day suspension to be served March 28 to April 11, 2026, inclusive.
AND WHEREAS on March 13, 2026, STEWARD was further issued Ruling Number 3607685, as a result of a fourth violation of Rule 22.19 in Race 4 at Western Fair Raceway on March 10, 2026, and was suspended immediately and referred to the Director of Racing;
AND WHEREAS STEWARD spoke with the office of the Director of Regulatory Compliance Branch on behalf of the Registrar;
AND WHEREAS STEWARD has committed four (4) violations of Rule 22.19 of the Rules within one year and in accordance with Rules 22.19 and 4.02 of the Rules, is suspended as a driver for a period of thirty (30) days, with fifteen (15) days stayed during a probation period of twelve (12) months, until April 13, 2027. The suspension will be served from March 14 to March 27, 2026, inclusive, and April 12th, 2026. STEWARD is also issued a monetary penalty of $1,000
($500 stayed) due before reinstatement;
AND WHEREAS should STEWARD commit a further violation of Rule 22.19 while on probation, he shall be immediately suspended from driving (pending the fulfilment of any outstanding obligations), and the stayed portions shall be lifted, and will be referred to the Director;
AND WHEREAS on February 13, 2025, STEWARD filed a Notice of Appeal and a Notice of Motion requesting a stay with the panel, to which the Registrar consented;
AND WHEREAS on April 28, 2026, that the Panel granted the request for stay, on consent;
AND WHEREAS on May 11, 2026, the Appellant requested in writing to withdraw his appeal, to which the Registrar consented;
TAKE NOTICE that the Panel acknowledges the withdrawal of the Appeal, on consent;
TAKE NOTICE that the stay is lifted and the decision and penalty of Standardbred Ruling Number 3623478 shall apply and the driving suspension shall be served from May 11, 2026 to June 7, 2026 (inclusive).
DATED on this 19th day of May, 2025.
Stanley Sadinsky, K.C., Chair
Horse Racing Appeal Panel