RULING NUMBER COM TB 026/2013
COMMISSION HEARING TORONTO, ONTARIO – DECEMBER 10, 2013
NOTICE OF DECISION
IN THE MATTER OF THE RACING COMMISSION ACT, S.O. 2000, c.20;
AND IN THE MATTER OF THE APPEAL OF SHEENA RYAN
Sheena Ryan, Licence No. 135011, appealed against Ruling Number TB 8413/2013.
Date of Hearing: December 10, 2013
ORC Panel Member: Commissioner John W. Macdonald
Representative for the Appellant: Self represented
Agent for the Administration: Craig Walker
The Panel denied the appeal.
The three-day riding suspension will be served on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th day of the racing season in 2014 at Woodbine Racetrack.
A transcript with the Panel’s oral Reasons for Decision is attached to this Notice.
DATED at Toronto this 13th day of December 2013.
Steven Lehman
Executive Director
ONTARIO RACING COMMISSION
THOROUGHBRED HEARING
IN THE MATTER OF THE RACING COMMISSION ACT, 2000, S.O. C.20 AND THE RULES OF THOROUGHBRED RACING:
AND IN THE MATTER OF AN APPEAL AND REQUEST FOR HEARING OF SHEENA RYAN:
Held Before:
John Macdonald Chairman
These are an excerpt of the proceedings in the above mentioned matter held before The Ontario Racing Commission, Re: SHEENA RYAN, taken before Toronto Court Reporters, Suite 1410, 65 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, at 10 Carlson Court, Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario, on the 10th day of December, 2013.
Appearances:
Craig Walker,
agent for the Ontario Racing Commission Administration
Hearing continued ...
MR. CHAIRMAN: Thank you. I've listened to the evidence as carefully as I could and saw the video. Unfortunately the way it turns out, as Steward Grubb said they do cut a little slack particularly for young horses and it's a question of experience. That was the first infraction. The second one was almost the horse was being knocked into the rail. That's why the suspension. I'm going to deny the appeal and hope that this is the sort of thing that we all learn something from. So keeping in mind the suspension again three days so I'm going to now go under the assumption that that will be the three days tacked on to the beginning of the thoroughbred season in 2014 which would be after the April 12th, whatever the three days are after that.
MR. WALKER: Yes, that's correct, sir. It will be the first; we already have the one, the first racing day of 2014. Now we will have the first four racing days of 2014 and I will have to get a racing calendar to find out exactly what those days are.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Thank you and I would be remiss if I didn't say, Mr. Grubb, we'll miss you. It's been a long time since I have seen you ride. I was never very good. I should have had binoculars in those days and I would have paid more attention to knowing all what was going on. Having more experience with standardbreds at least I knew what was going on there. You have educated me in more ways than one and your service at the Racing Commission has been exemplary from what I've seen. Hell, I'd prefer you went back riding but I guess that's not going to happen. Thank you again for all your services over the years and Mr. Walker and I are going to be sorry that you are not going to be here and I'm sure a lot of other people will be sorry they are not going to have a chance to cross-examine you. Thank you all.
MR. WALKER: Thank you, sir.
CERTIFIED CORRECT:______________________________
RAYMOND P. MACDONALD, B.A., CVR
Commissioner of Oaths