The Ontario Racing Commission today issued a release in regard to an appeal by Sudbury Downs

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Sudbury Downs was appealing the ORC judges' issue of ruling SB 40923 in accordance with rules 1.09 and 5.11 of the rules of standardbred racing, with an effective date of June 25, 2009 at 12:01 a.m. as follows:

• Part One: To provide properly bedded and properly maintained stalls for the horses that ship in at no cost at any time to the horse persons.
• Part Two: To keep all the horses of any one stable and in any one entity together in one location where it is in the opinion of the judges reasonable to do so.
• Part Three: Any violation of the above order will result in the assessment of substantial fines and any other additional penalty or penalties deemed appropriate by the Judges and or the Commission at the time.”

Upon considering the testimony of Bill Maertens, Chuck Fraleigh, Robert Bodkin, Phillipe Belanger, and Ken Le Drew, reviewing the exhibits filed, and upon hearing the closing submissions, the ORC panel ordered as follows:

• Part One: Sudbury Downs provide bedding and maintenance for the ship in stalls until its current contract with the Northern Horsemen’s Association expires. The matter of cost on a go forward basis is to be resolved between the parties. If they cannot come to an agreement, the administration of the ORC is to make that determination;
• Part Two: the Panel upholds the appellant’s appeal. This portion of the decision is conditional on the track’s ongoing commitment to assign the stalls as per its present willingness to offer convenience to horse people;
• Part Three: Nullified.

The ORC's reasons for decision appear in the official release, which can be viewed by clicking here.

(With files from the ORC)