Ontario

Racing

Commission

TB

RULING NUMBER COM SB 028/2009

COMMISSION HEARING TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 21, 2009

IN THE MATTER OF THE RACING COMMISSION ACT S.O. 2000, c.20;

AND IN THE MATTER IN THE APPEAL AND REQUEST FOR HEARING OF

ANGELO ECONOMOPOULOS

On June 10, 2009, a Notice of Proposed Order to Revoke the Licence of Angelo Economopoulos (“ECONOMOPOULOS”) was issued by the Director of the Ontario Racing Commission (“ORC”).

On June 23, 2009, ECONOMOPOULOS requested a Hearing in connection with the Director’s Proposed Order.

On September 21, 2009, a Panel of the ORC, comprised of Chair Rod Seiling, Commissioner Pamela Frostad and Commissioner Brenda Walker, was convened to hear the appeal.

Jennifer Friedman appeared as counsel for the Administration. ECONOMOPOULOS attended the Hearing and was accompanied by his friend, Renol Alili, who acted as his representative.

Upon hearing the testimony of Detective Constable Lorra Deasy, reviewing the exhibits filed, and upon hearing the closing submissions, the Panel upheld the Director’s Proposed Order on the following basis:

i) ECONOMOPOULOS will be eligible for an ORC licence in six months from the date of this hearing, March 20, 2010.

ii) At that time, he must satisfy the Director he will meet the standard expected to be an ORC licensee.

The transcript with the Panel’s Oral Decision is attached to this Ruling.

DATED at Toronto this 2nd day of October, 2009.

BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSION

John L. Blakney

Executive Director

ONTARIO RACING COMMISSION

STANDARDBRED HEARING

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPEAL AND REQUEST FOR HEARING OF ANGELO ECONOMOPOULOS

Held Before:

Rod Seiling Chairman

Brenda Walker Commissioner

Pamela Frostad Commissioner

These are an excerpt of the proceedings in the above mentioned matter held before The Ontario Racing Commission, Re: ANGELO ECONOMOPOULOS, taken before Toronto Court Reporters, Suite 1410, 65 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, at 10 Carlson Court, Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario, on the 21st day of September, 2009.

Appearances:

Jennifer Friedman,

for the Ontario Racing Commission Administration

Renol Alili, appearing as a friend of the licensee

Hearing continued ...

MR. CHAIRMAN: All rise. Please be seated. After carefully considering the testimony, evidence and submissions the panel upholds the decision of the Director. One of the policies of this Commission is rehabilitation. Mr. Alili claims Mr. Economopoulos has changed and deserves to have a license. Unfortunately the panel has not been provided any substantive proof.

Mr. Economopoulos will be eligible for an ORC license in six months from the date of this hearing, March 20th, 2010. At that time he must satisfy the Director he will meet the standard expected to be an ORC licensee. The appellant should be aware that in terms of his personal record it must be unblemished and that he needs to bring forth letters of support from the industry, including a minimum of one trainer who is prepared to take on Mr. Economopoulos as a client.

The panel suggests the Director consider attaching conditions to the license to be granted such as a requiring the Judges' approval for Mr. Economopoulos to change trainers. The panel takes a dim view of Mr. Economopoulos' past record. Failing to be truthful on his license application speaks directly to character. He should be aware this may be his last chance to have the privilege of licensing by this Commission. Any questions?

MR. ALILI: Will he get a copy of what he needs to actually do?

MR. CHAIRMAN: I think Ms. Friedman will be able to furnish you with a copy of it, once we get the transcript and we can type this up as well.

MS. FRIEDMAN: Yes.

MR. ECONOMOPOULOS: When you say I can re-apply and I have the records down does that mean I have to put my driving record down too because I didn't know I had to put the driving record.

MR. CHAIRMAN: It is on file now, sir. I think Ms. Friedman can help you with what is required in order to make your application in six months time.

MR. FRIEDMAN: Just for the purpose of the record so that we have it, anything that has not been produced at the hearing today is not on file. So everything that we have here is on file but if something happens between when the due diligence report was completed and the next hearing or the next time you appear before the Director those will have to be included.

MR. ALILI: So sorry to interrupt. So in essence if you re-apply in six months and there isn't anything against him criminally he doesn't have to put that on the form? Is that correct?

MR. CHAIRMAN: Correct.

MS. FRIEDMAN: Well, any sort of licensing ‑‑

MR. CHAIRMAN: Anything to do with your personal history that is on record as of the last due diligence, be it driving, criminal, financial, will be on the record as of the last due diligence and you have got that in your documentation there. Anything from that day on a go forward has to be disclosed.

MR. ALILI: Even a speeding ticket?

MR. CHAIRMAN: Yes. You remember transportation, Ministry of Transportation, violations have to be disclosed.

MR. ALILI: All right.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Now just for clarity when you re-apply you still have to satisfy the Director that you are worthy of licensing. This is not an automatic and we are looking or suggesting in here that you would need letters of support from the horse racing industry, including a minimum of one trainer who is prepared to take you on as a trainer for your license. Is that clear?

MR. ECONOMOPOULOS: Yes, sir.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay. Anything else?

MR. ECONOMOPOULOS: Yes. So when I re-apply I have to put down again yes, I have been charged in Niagara Falls and put that down; yes, I have been charged in Brantford. I have to put that down or do I also have to put yes, I have an assault with my wife because I know that's on record and that's why I didn't put that on. You understand what I am saying? Do I have to put down ‑‑

MR. CHAIRMAN: No.

MR. ALILI: May I try to explain? What they are saying is from today on ‑‑

MR. CHAIRMAN: No, not from today on, from the day of the due diligence which I think was March 9th?

MS. FRIEDMAN: March 9th, 2009.

MR. ALILI: So from March, 2009. From March 2009 to March 2010 anything that occurs, for example, speeding ticket, god forbid an assault then you have to notify them but everything else before they know now and you don't have to let them know anything on that.

MR. CHAIRMAN: And the licensing agent will be able to help you. Explain what has happened in the past, what has happened today and whoever that licensing - whatever track you go to they will be able to help you. Okay? Thank you.

MS. FRIEDMAN: Thank you.

MR. ECONOMOPOULOS: Thank you.

CERTIFIED CORRECT:____________________________

RAYMOND P. MACDONALD, B.A., CVR

Commissioner of Oaths