ORC 2010

The licensee, a standardbred trainer/owner, appealed the penalties imposed by the standardbred Judges after his horse tested positive for Reserpine, a Class II tranquilizer.

The Judges had imposed a $5,000 fine and a one-year suspension.

On appeal, the Commission considered mitigating factors, including the licensee's time in the business and the fact that he eventually disclosed the source of the drug.

The Commission reduced the suspension to six months and the fine to $2,500, while imposing probationary terms on his license.

The applicant, an apprentice jockey, was suspended after multiple positive tests for marijuana and a subsequent refusal to take a return-to-duty test.

After producing a negative test nearly two years later, he applied for a reinstatement hearing.

The Ontario Racing Commission granted the application, allowing him to apply for re-licensing subject to entering a post-violation agreement and enrolling in an approved substance abuse program for 12 months.

The appellant, a standardbred licensee, appealed a Judges' ruling that found no violation of the pylon rule by another driver during a race.

The appellant alleged the other driver went over and between the pylons, leaving the race course.

After reviewing the video evidence and hearing testimony, the Ontario Racing Commission found no conclusive evidence of a rule violation.

The driver's sulky wheel went over the pylon, which was in compliance with the rules.

The appeal was denied and the original order of finish was maintained.

The appellant appealed a Judges' ruling that a horse finished first and was not placed for failure to lose ground while on a break.

The Ontario Racing Commission denied the appeal, finding that the driver pulled back the horse and lost ground, thereby complying with the breaking rule.

The Commission noted that the appeal was frivolous but declined to levy a fine because the appellant misunderstood the rule's application.

The appellant, Bruno Schickedanz, appealed a decision by Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) to suspend his stabling and racing privileges after his 13-year-old horse, Wake at Noon, was euthanized following a breakdown during a workout.

The Ontario Racing Commission found that WEG acted appropriately in the public interest and to protect the health and welfare of horses.

The Commission held that WEG's exercise of its private property rights to exclude the appellant was reasonable and that no basis for ORC intervention was established.

The appeal was dismissed.

The appellant, a quarter horse trainer, appealed a decision by the Stewards at Ajax Downs to disqualify his horse from fourth to sixth place for interference at the start of a race.

At the hearing before the Ontario Racing Commission, the appellant withdrew his appeal.

The Commission allowed the withdrawal, ordered the official order of finish to remain as posted, and directed the presiding steward to hold an educational seminar for trainers and jockeys on the interpretation and application of racing rules.

The appellant, a standardbred licensee, appealed a penalty of a $1,000 fine and a three-day suspension for failing to attend a hearing as a witness.

Based on an agreed statement of facts, the Ontario Racing Commission stayed the original penalty on the condition that a warning letter be placed in the appellant's file for 12 months, with escalating penalties for any subsequent failure to appear.

The appellants, standardbred licensees, appealed a ruling that fined the driver $300 and placed their horse from first to fifth for a pylon violation under the Rules of Standardbred Racing.

The Ontario Racing Commission allowed the appeal, finding that the driver was effectively forced to go over the pylons due to the events of the race.

The fine was rescinded and the horse was reinstated to the first finishing position.

The appellant appealed a ruling suspending his standardbred racing license for failing to honour a judgment in favour of a feed company.

After the appellant failed to appear at the rescheduled hearing, the Ontario Racing Commission dismissed the appeal and confirmed the suspension.

The Commission also ordered the appellant to pay $200 in costs thrown away due to his non-attendance.

The appellant appealed a Notice of Proposed Order to Refuse to Issue a Licence as a Standardbred Driver.

The Ontario Racing Commission allowed the appeal in part, setting aside the Director's order and directing the Director to re-examine the application in three months.

The appellant was required to provide updates on his sobriety, resolve outstanding criminal charges and fines, and address allegations of attempting to coerce a witness.

The appellant, a quarter horse licensee, appealed a Stewards' decision that disallowed a claim of foul against the winning horse following a race at Ajax Downs.

The appellant argued that bumping at the start affected the race outcome.

The Ontario Racing Commission panel reviewed the video evidence and heard testimony, concluding that while there was confusion and bumping involving another horse, the foul claim against the winning horse could not be established.

The appeal was denied, and the original order of finish was maintained.

The appellant, a standardbred licensee, appealed a three-day driving suspension for causing interference during a race.

The appellant did not attend the scheduled hearing, citing medical reasons.

The Ontario Racing Commission panel granted a conditional adjournment to August 16, 2010, provided the appellant submitted supporting medical documentation by the end of the day.

The licensee appealed a Stewards' ruling declaring him ineligible to receive an apprentice jockey's weight allowance.

The licensee had applied for a medical extension past the three-year deadline under Rule 30.18, but was mistakenly granted an extension due to a clerical error by Commission officials.

The Panel accepted the appeal, ruling that although the Stewards were correct in their interpretation of the rule, the licensee would be permitted to ride as an apprentice until June 15, 2010, because of the officials' error.

The appellant, a standardbred licensee, appealed a 15-day suspension and $1,500 fine imposed for an altercation with another licensee in the grandstand at Kawartha Downs.

The Ontario Racing Commission panel found that the altercation was retaliatory and occurred in a public place, potentially causing security issues.

The panel denied the appeal and upheld the suspension and fine.

The appellant, a thoroughbred jockey, appealed a three-day riding suspension imposed by the Stewards for causing interference during a race.

The appellant admitted to causing the interference but appealed the penalty.

The Ontario Racing Commission denied the appeal, finding no mitigating factors and upholding the three-day suspension.

Additionally, the appellant was fined $100 for arriving 20 minutes late to the appeal hearing without a valid reason.

The appellant, a standardbred licensee, appealed a 3-day driving suspension imposed by the Judges for interference during a race.

The Ontario Racing Commission reviewed the video evidence and heard testimony from a judge and another driver.

The Commission found that the appellant's horse came out far enough to cause interference, requiring another driver to take hold of his horse.

The appeal was denied and the 3-day suspension was upheld.

The appellant, a thoroughbred licensee, appealed a Stewards' ruling that declared a race official with no violation.

The appellant argued his horse was interfered with during the stretch run, warranting the disqualification of the winning horse.

The Ontario Racing Commission allowed the appeal, finding that bumping and drifting forced the appellant's horse out, affecting its momentum and the race's finish.

The order of finish was changed to place the appellant's horse first.

The appellant, a thoroughbred licensee, appealed a Stewards' ruling that suspended her for three days and fined her $500 for a whip rule violation.

On the scheduled hearing date, the Ontario Racing Commission panel adjourned the matter on consent of all parties due to time constraints.

The appellant, a thoroughbred licensee, appealed a Stewards' ruling that suspended him for 5 years and fined him $2,000 for failing to ensure proper care for horses.

The Ontario Racing Commission panel found that the appellant clearly violated the rules by failing to provide basic necessities of care, resulting in extreme and inhumane conditions for the horses.

The panel dismissed the appeal regarding the violations but varied the penalty, staying a portion of the suspension to allow the appellant to be eligible for a groom or hot walker's licence after a short full suspension, while maintaining the 5-year suspension for an owner or trainer's licence.

The appellant, a thoroughbred jockey, appealed two Stewards' rulings that imposed fines and riding suspensions for urging violations.

At the hearing, the parties presented an Agreed Statement of Facts and a Joint Submission.

The Ontario Racing Commission accepted the Joint Submission, ordering the appellant to pay $800 in outstanding fines, staying the riding suspensions, and placing the appellant on probation for approximately one year with conditions regarding future urging violations.