At a meeting of the Board of the Ontario Racing Commission on April 25, a number of changes to the Rules of Racing were approved, impacting Standardbred, Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing.

Under Standardbred Racing, new rules were established covering non-extended meetings. As defined in the rules, a non-extended meeting means a race meet of less than seven days. These rules will now be in place for fairs or for any association that wishes to race less than seven days. The purpose of the new rules is to recognize a different set of standards for smaller meets from those of extended meets (seven days or more). An example of a different standard would be permitting a smaller meet to conduct racing without a secured paddock.

Formerly, Standardbred Canada provided regulatory oversight of the fairs but in late 2012, the ORC was notified that SC would no longer be in a position to provide these services. For the 2013 season, the Board adopted the SC rules, on the condition that the Administration develop a set of ORC rules ready for the 2014 season. In 2013 Leamington and Port Perry Fairs, as well as the Leamington meet licensed under the Lakeshore Horse Racing Association, operated as a non-extended meeting. The new rules will form an Appendix to the Rules of Standardbred Racing. The main Rules are to be referred to, except where deleted or replaced by a rule in the Appendix.

To view the ORC release in its entirety, click here.

(With files from the ORC)