ORC 2005

Thoroughbred jockey Gerald Baird appealed a 3-day suspension for interference after his horse swerved and impeded outside horses.

The Ontario Racing Commission found that while the jockey was not in control of his horse in the turn, the act was not deliberate and he took immediate action to correct it.

The appeal was allowed in part, and the suspension was reduced to 2 days.

The appellant, a thoroughbred licensee, appealed a Stewards Ruling and a subsequent decision of the Ontario Racing Industry Board of Appeal that fined him $400 for disturbing the peace, obnoxious behaviour, and making threats against another licensee.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal, finding ample evidence of inappropriate conduct and language.

The Commission upheld the $400 fine and strongly urged the appellant to seek counselling for anger management and financial responsibility.

Thoroughbred Jockey Constant Montpellier appealed a 5-day suspension for careless riding and interference during a race.

The Ontario Racing Commission panel reviewed the evidence, including testimony and videotape, and found that the appellant deliberately brought his horse into the path of another horse to interfere and intimidate.

The panel dismissed the appeal and upheld the suspension, noting that such deliberate actions could cause a real accident.

The appellant, a racing association official, appealed a $500 fine imposed by the Stewards for failing to comply with a Steward's direction.

The dispute arose when the appellant instructed his staff to pull the entry of a horse that was on the veterinarian's list and therefore ineligible to race, contrary to the Steward's instruction to leave the entry in until the Board of Stewards could rule on it.

The Panel found that the horse was clearly ineligible and the trainer agreed, meaning there was no dispute for the Board to resolve.

Given the appellant's blemish-free record and the circumstances, the appeal was allowed.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard a revised race date application from Windsor Raceway Inc. for 2005 live and intertrack race dates.

The Commission approved 124 live standardbred race dates and 364 intertrack and simulcast dates, subject to the applicant agreeing in writing to add additional dates to bring the total to 131 and to conduct an average of 15 live races per approved date.

If the applicant did not accept these conditions by the specified deadline, the application would be rejected.

Windsor Raceway applied to the Ontario Racing Commission for 124 race dates for the 2005 calendar year.

The Commission noted the public interest required resuming live racing at Windsor as soon as possible following a stoppage.

The Commission approved the application subject to two conditions: Windsor Raceway must add seven additional race dates to total 131 days, and there must be an average of fifteen live races per race date.

If the conditions were not accepted by the specified deadline, the application would be rejected.

The Ontario Racing Commission approved a revised 2005 live race date schedule for Windsor Raceway, consisting of 131 race dates with an average of 15 races per program, after the applicant agreed to the conditions set out in a previous ruling.

Picov Downs Inc. applied for approval of 20 days of live quarter horse racing and intertrack dates for the 2005 season.

The Ontario Racing Commission approved the application, subject to conditions requiring the applicant to provide detailed plans and timelines for the construction of new backstretch and racing facilities, and ensuring that the existing facilities are appropriate for regulatory staff and horses.

The Ontario Racing Commission convened a hearing to review teletheatre licence applications from Flamboro Downs Raceway, Ontario Teletheatre Network, and Woodbine Entertainment Group.

The Commission approved three new teletheatre licences at locations in Hamilton, Newmarket, and Kitchener, subject to certain conditions such as receipt of liquor licences and photographs.

The Commission also cancelled an existing teletheatre licence in Newmarket.

Windsor Raceway applied for 124 live race dates for the 2005 calendar year, following two previously deficient applications.

The Ontario Harness Horse Association opposed the reduction, arguing for a return to the 153 dates approved in 2003 and 2004.

The Commission criticized both parties for focusing on self-interest rather than the public interest.

The Commission ultimately approved a schedule resulting in 131 live dates and 1,965 live racing opportunities, emphasizing the need to resume racing and consider the broader public interest.

The Ontario Racing Commission convened to hear a teletheatre licence application from Rideau Carleton Raceway.

Upon hearing submissions from the applicant and the Administration, the Commission approved the teletheatre licence for the site at 1475 Richmond Road, Ottawa, operated by Vincent Roland Bergeron (Royal Britannia Pub), effective June 23, 2005.

The Ontario Racing Commission reviewed applications for the 2006 horse racing season.

The Commission approved the requested live standardbred, thoroughbred, and quarter horse race dates, as well as simulcast dates for various racetracks across the province.

All post times were approved as applied for.

The Ontario Racing Commission heard applications for 2006 live and intertrack race dates from several track operators.

The Commission approved the race dates for Quinte Exhibition & Raceway on the condition that it would be its final year of operation at the existing facility.

The Commission also approved the race dates for Kawartha Downs Raceway, subject to a joint review of wagering levels with the Ontario Harness Horse Association.

The applications for Windsor Raceway and The New Hiawatha Horse Park were adjourned or deferred.

Rideau Carleton Holdings Ltd. applied to the Ontario Racing Commission for 18 additional live race dates for 2005.

The Governing Board approved the application subject to strict conditions.

The applicant must provide certification that temporary heating measures in the Officials' Stand meet safety standards and commit to maintaining a specific temperature.

Furthermore, the applicant must submit a project plan for permanent winterization of the Officials' Stand and a revised Racetrack Maintenance Plan for winter racing.

Windsor Raceway Inc. applied to the Ontario Racing Commission for 125 live race dates and 364 simulcast dates for the 2006 season.

The Ontario Harness Horse Association made submissions advocating for more summer racing dates.

The Commission conditionally approved the application, ordering the applicant to submit a revised schedule adding a minimum of six live race dates to address concerns about the reduction in racing opportunities.

The Ontario Racing Commission reconvened a hearing regarding an application by Windsor Raceway Inc. for 2006 race dates.

The Commission had previously approved 125 race dates conditional upon the addition of a minimum of six days.

The applicant submitted a revised application for six additional dates, which the Commission approved, bringing the total to 131 approved race dates for Windsor Raceway.

The Deputy Director of Racing issued a Notice of Proposed Order to revoke the appellant's horse racing licenses, alleging he conspired to fix a race at Fraser Downs in 1999.

The appellant requested a hearing before the Ontario Racing Commission.

The Commission found the Administration's case lacked clear and cogent evidence, noting significant inconsistencies in the key witness's testimony, the failure to call the bettor as a witness, and the failure to produce the race videotapes.

The Commission quashed and set aside the Notice of Proposed Order.

The appellants, an owner/trainer, owner/groom, and hotwalker, appealed Stewards' Rulings finding them in violation of Rule 15.11.1 of the Rules of Thoroughbred Racing for uttering offensive and racial remarks and threatening another licensee.

The Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeals, upholding the findings and penalties, which included fines and a 30-day suspension for the owner/trainer.

The Commission accepted the evidence of the threatened licensee and found the appellants' denials lacked credibility.

The appellants appealed Judges' Rulings finding them in violation of various Rules of Standardbred Racing related to hidden trainers and misleading investigators.

The Ontario Racing Commission granted the appeals regarding the hidden trainer allegations, finding that the named trainer did perform sufficient duties to be considered the trainer of record.

However, the Commission upheld the findings that the appellants misled investigators and submitted false licence applications.

Fines were imposed and licences suspended until payment.