Ontario Racing Commission

[freelegged]

The ORC does not fool around. These boys mean bi'nizz.

This is a big reason why I think racing up there is in overall better shape than it is here.

I just saw this on Standardbred Canada under the fines. When-if ever- do we see these types of financial punishments handed out to racetracks?

KAWARTHA DOWNS                    
ORC   - RACETRACK SURFACE STANDARDS
Commission Rule Number : 1.09 POLICY DIRECTIVE #2-2007                                                  
Date Issued : 27-FEB-2010
Total Due :   2000.00
Violation Occurred :  at KAWARTHA DOWNS on 09-FEB-2010

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KAWARTHA DOWNS                    
ORC   - ORDER TO COMPLY TO DUST CONTROL
FAILURE TO COMPLY - $3000 FINE PER RACE CARD
EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 5, 2010Commission Rule Number : 1:09 AND 5:11                                                                  
Date Issued : 02-FEB-2010
Violation Occurred :  at KAWARTHA DOWNS on 02-FEB-2010

[wilderness]

Hey Free,
              Although we'd like to be naive and believe these fines by the Ontario-RC are about integrity, nothing could be further from the truth.

 From the beginning of the approval of VLT's in Ontario the commission has been quite adamant, and at times even abusive in their fines. It's NOT about the integrity all, rather it's simply about the revenue the fines generate.

 Fortunately the "general public" has no idea of their greed

[freelegged]

Wilderness- I am sure you have a valid point.

However, there is at least some structure. I will take a power-happy governing body over little or no punishment at all.

In my opinion, harness racing in the U.S. is in this condition because the inmates are running the asylum...and they have been for years.

Right now we have rules that horsemen can plan and plot and eventually they can work around those rules.

We would be in better shape if the feedback we heard out of horsemen are things like..."these rules are brutal", "this isn't fair", "this can't be", "I don't like this".

When you start hearing that, you know you have a system in place that has some teeth to it.

BY THE WAY Wilderness....Thanks for responding.. .I was up to 50 views with no feedback or thoughts....I was afraid I was on my way to one of those "100 views, 0 replies". 

[wilderness]

Wilderness- I am sure you have a valid point.

However, there is at least some structure. I will take a power-happy governing body over little or no punishment at all.

 Free,
         I've chained and shackled the entire Mich Gov't and they'll be arriving by train to your local town in the AM