A freedom of information request, recently filed by the Toronto Star to uncover audits received by the government pertaining to Ontario's horse racing industry, has been denied by the Ministry of Finance.

According to an article published Thursday by the Star, the media outlet received a letter from Finance dated November 8 that stated none of the near-350 pages of findings produced by Deloitte and Touche -- the appointed third-party reviewer assigned by the province -- would be released.

“Disclosure of the responsive records would reveal advice and recommendations provided to the ministry from a consultant (Deloitte),” the ministry letter stated, also citing right to privacy and that information “supplied in confidence and where disclosure could reasonably be expected to result in significant prejudice to racetracks, including undue loss.”

The Star is appealing the Ministry of Finance's decision.