ORC 2001

The appellant appealed a decision of the Ontario Racing Industry Board of Appeal, which had rescinded a five-day suspension imposed on the respondent for driving interference during a horse race.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard testimony, viewed the race video, and disallowed the appeal, restoring the decision of the Board of Appeal.

Standardbred trainer Evzen Pindur appealed a Judges' Ruling that fined him $1,500 and suspended him for 75 days due to a high TCO2 level in a horse.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard a joint submission on penalty from the trainer and the Administration.

The Commission dismissed the appeal but varied the penalty to a 60-day suspension and a $1,500 fine, in accordance with the joint submission.

The appellant, a standardbred driver/trainer, appealed a Judges' Ruling that fined him $1,500 and suspended him for 75 days following a positive drug test from a horse he trained.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard a joint submission on penalty from the appellant and the Administration.

The Commission dismissed the appeal but varied the penalty in accordance with the joint submission, imposing a 60-day full suspension and a $1,500 fine.

Thoroughbred licensee Gary Boulanger appealed a decision of the Ontario Racing Industry Board of Appeal, which had upheld a three-day suspension imposed by the Stewards for misuse of his whip during a race.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard testimony from the Stewards, the jockey, and others.

The Commission allowed the appeal and provided oral reasons for its decision.

The appellants, thoroughbred owners, appealed the Ontario Racing Industry Board of Appeal's decision upholding the Stewards' disqualification of their horse for interference during a race.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard testimony from the Senior Steward, jockeys, and a trainer.

The Commission dismissed the appeal and upheld the disqualification, providing oral reasons.

The Director of the Ontario Racing Commission proposed to revoke the thoroughbred owner's licence of the licensee after his corporation pleaded guilty to fraud.

The licensee requested a hearing.

The Commission found clear and convincing evidence that the licensee knew of and participated in the fraudulent scheme, establishing reasonable grounds to believe he would not act with integrity.

However, considering his excellent reputation in the horse racing industry and the fact that the fraud was isolated to his home building business, the Commission set aside the revocation.

Instead, it ordered the issuance of a probationary licence until 2003, conditional upon the licensee donating $100,000 to the Avelino Gomez Memorial Foundation.

The appellants, a thoroughbred trainer and a groom, appealed rulings by the Stewards at Fort Erie Racetrack suspending them for the balance of the 2000 season and the entire 2001 season.

The suspensions were based on allegations of participating in a hidden ownership of two horses.

After hearing testimony from multiple witnesses, the Ontario Racing Commission allowed the appeals.

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.

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.

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.

Clinton Warrington, Jr. and Jacqueline Warrington appealed Standardbred Rulings suspending them for 90 days and fining them $3000 each for violating Standardbred Rule 11.08.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard the appeals and denied them, ordering the 90-day full suspensions to commence on August 13, 2001.

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 appellant, a standardbred owner, trainer, and driver, appealed a 30-day suspension and $1,000 fine for possessing needles and injectibles at Sudbury Downs Raceway.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal and upheld the penalty, directing the parties to agree on the commencement date of the suspension.

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.

Owner/Driver/Trainer David Duncan appealed a Standardbred Racing Industry Appeal Board decision that upheld a three-day suspension for a driving violation under Standardbred Rule 22.13.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard the appeal and testimonies from the parties.

The Commission allowed the appeal, with oral reasons provided on the record.

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 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.

The applicant requested a hearing before a panel of the Ontario Racing Commission to be reinstated as an Association Official in accordance with Standardbred Ruling 137/2001.

After hearing evidence and submissions, the panel declined to reinstate her licence.

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.

Standardbred driver/trainer Sandy Jones appealed a decision of the Standardbred Industry Appeal Board upholding a five-day driving suspension for indiscriminate whip use.

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