The Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) at its meeting of Wednesday, January 4, 2012, resolved that the following Directive be approved, effective January 9, 2012.

WHEREAS Policy Directive No. 3 – 2011 was released on December 20, 2011 which required the licensing of horsepeople’s organizations;

AND WHEREAS in addition to Policy Directive No.3 – 2011, Standardbred Directive No. 6 – 2011 and Thoroughbred Directive No. 6 – 2011 were issued on December 20, 2011;

TAKE NOTICE that the ORC Board has authorized the use of access agreements between ORC licensed horsepeople and licensed racetracks which will be accepted by the ORC as an alternative method of compliance with the requirements set out by the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency through the Pari-Mutuel Betting Supervision Regulations.

The Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) at its meeting of Thursday, April 26, 2012, resolved that the following directive be approved, effective immediately
WHEREAS, the Racing Commission Act, 2000 states that:

Section 11(2) In its rules, the Commission may adopt by reference, in whole or in part, with the changes that the Commission considers necessary, rules and procedures of racing associations or bodies, as amended from time to time, with respect of any matter except hearings held under Part II;

AND WHEREAS Track Rules govern licensees’ conduct on the property of the racing association;

AND WHEREAS, upon application for a racetrack operator’s licence, Track Rules for that association must be submitted;

AND WHEREAS, the Director has authority to approve Track Rules generally, and can additionally authorize the adoption of those Track Rules not covered by Rules of Racing but that require adoption where the ORC will enforce and issue penalty;

To be approved by the Director, Track Rules must conform as follows:

1. A “suspension” in Track Rules can only refer to a suspension of licence as ordered by the ORC and cannot be used to refer to loss of privileges to access the property of the racing association.
2. A Track Rule cannot supersede or change a requirement specified in the Rules of Racing, unless that Track Rule is approved or adopted by the ORC.
3. A Track Rule that varies an ORC rule may be considered for approval and/or adoption where that variation refers to local issues specific to operations.
4. A Track Rule cannot layer an additional penalty on a rule of racing excepting any penalties that may be applied by an association as it relates to the conduct of their employees.
5. A demerit system can be used by the association to manage loss of privilege under the Trespass to Property Act, but cannot compound a penalty issued by the ORC.
6. A Track Rule cannot require membership in a horseperson’s association.
7. Where the Association wishes to highlight an existing ORC rule, the Track Rule must include the specific ORC rule reference (e.g. ORC SB Rule X.XX).
8. Where a Track Rule is determined to be impermissible or redundant by the ORC, it must be removed.
9. Where an approved or adopted Track Rule is enforced by an official of the ORC, the penalty will be issued by the ORC, and any fines will be collected by the ORC.

Upon review and recommendation of ORC Administration, the Director will issue approval of the submitted Track Rules in whole and/or in part. Approval of Track Rules in whole means the Director finds no issue with the rules contained therein, and the rules are permissible. Where the Director determines that ORC officials will enforce a specific track rule, that rule will be adopted by reference.

The Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) at its meeting of Thursday, July 4, 2013, resolved that the following directive be approved, effective immediately.
This policy covers different circumstances that may arise where an added money event (stakes race) needs to be rescheduled and addresses defined protocol. The policy provides guidance as follows:

1. Defines the limitations for “postponing” a race.
2. Details the protocol to be followed when races are rescheduled to a time beyond reasonable limits affecting the eligibility of entered horses.

Added Money Events are defined in the Rules of Standardbred Racing under Chapter 2 – Definitions as meaning stakes, futurities, early closing events and late closing events.
For the purposes of this Policy Directive Added Money Events include any race regardless of breed to which a horse must pay a nomination fee in advance of entry day.

Postponing

A stakes race (including divisions, eliminations, legs, trials or finals) where the entry box has been closed, that cannot be run on the advertised date but can be rescheduled within 7 clear days (Standardbred) or 14 clear days (Thoroughbred) of the original date, is considered postponed and the following will apply:

1. The horses are not required to be re-entered, as all horses are considered to have maintained their eligibility (unless the trainer has done something to make them ineligible, e.g. the horse is on the Stewards’ List).
2. As all originally entered horses are still considered eligible, the stake race will be conducted as drawn and all starting fees remain due and payable.
3. Any horse that was scratched for the original date, remains scratched for the postponed date, and the starting fee is due and payable.
4. To maintain their eligibility to the postponed race, horses entered and eligible to the race cannot enter and race in another race.

Re-scheduling

A stakes race (including divisions, eliminations, legs, trials or finals) where the entry box has been closed, that cannot be run on the advertised dates but cannot be scheduled within 7 clear days (Standardbred) or 14 clear days (Thoroughbred) of the original date, is considered re-scheduled and the following will apply:

1. Eligible horses must be re-entered to the re-scheduled race. Trainers are responsible for declaring horses to the re-scheduled race, and under the Rules of Racing responsible for ensuring entry of an eligible horse. Rules surrounding eligibility continue to apply.
2. Only horses declared to the original event are eligible to be declared to the re-scheduled event.
3. Any horse that was scratched before the decision to cancel was made is ineligible to enter in the re-scheduled event. The starting fee for that horse remains payable.
4. Where the horse’s interests decide not to enter the horse to the re-scheduled event, they are not required to pay the starting fee.
5. There will be a redraw for post positions.
6. Where the re-scheduled race is a Final, all results from any required trials will be carried over.

Cancellation

In the case where the added money event must be cancelled, the nomination and sustaining payments will be returned to the owner of the horse.