Horse Racing Appeal Panel

Established through the Horse Racing Licence Act, 2015, the Horse Racing Appeal Panel (HRAP or Panel) is an adjudicative body that is mandated to consider appeals of decisions made under the Rules of Racing.

The HRAP was established as an institutionally independent and impartial adjudicative body that operates at arm’s length from the AGCO. Members are appointed to the HRAP by the AGCO Board of Directors. The HRAP is also provided operational and administrative support by the HRAP Secretariat, which is a unit within the Corporate Affairs, Strategic Policy and Planning Division of the AGCO. The HRAP Secretariat is operated as a standalone unit and is segregated from other parts of the AGCO organization to support the institutional independence of the HRAP. Although the HRAP Chair and Panel members are appointed by the AGCO Board of Directors, the AGCO has no oversight role or involvement in adjudicative matters overseen by the Panel and has no authority or jurisdiction to intervene in individual cases.

Panel members

HRAP members are appointed by the AGCO Board of Directors based on experience and qualifications and through a competitive, merit-based process. There is broad representation from the various sectors of the industry on the Panel, with various members possessing a background or experience in law, veterinary medicine and pharmacology, governance and administrative justice.

Stanley Sadinsky

CHAIR

First Appointed: April 1, 2016

Term Expires: March 21, 2022

Brian Newton

MEMBER

First Appointed: April 1, 2016

Term Expires: March 31, 2023

Sandra Meyrick

VICE-CHAIR

First Appointed: April 1, 2016

Term Expires: March 31, 2023

Bruce Murray

MEMBER

First Appointed: April 1, 2016

Term Expires: March 31, 2023

John Charalambous

MEMBER

First Appointed: April 1, 2016

Term Expires: March 31, 2023

Julie Jamieson

Bilingual MEMBER

First Appointed: March 6, 2017

Term Expires: March 5, 2021

Dr. John Hayes

MEMBER

First Appointed: April 1, 2016

Term Expires: March 31, 2023

Eric Anthony Clear (Tony) Williams

MEMBER

First Appointed: July 22, 2020

Term Expires: July 21, 2023

In January 2020, five members (including the Vice-Chair) were renewed for a further term and in July 2021, Tony Williams was newly appointed to the HRAP as a member. The re-appointments by the AGCO Board of Directors signal the importance of ensuring the continuity of the HRAP and retaining members who have the requisite skills and experience to effectively adjudicate racing appeals and to help manage the tribunal going forward.

Year in review

This report marks the end of five years in operation for the HRAP. Its focus continues to be on ensuring a fair and accessible adjudicative process for all participants. The HRAP continually reassesses itself, resulting in an efficient and responsive appeal process that considers all stakeholder input.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the HRAP took all precautionary measures to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our frontline staff, stakeholders and the public. As a result, and in accordance with the Rules of Racing (Rule 3.8), the HRAP adjourned all in-person hearings, and a new initiative to transition the in-person hearings to electronic hearings took immediate priority.

In July 2020, the HRAP recommenced hearings conducted exclusively on a virtual platform. Electronic hearings are accessible through a secure Zoom platform and facilitated by the HRAP Secretariat. Virtual training is available through the Secretariat to all participants in the electronic hearing process. A Notice to the Industry released in June 2020 addressed the changes to the hearing format under the HRAP’s Rules of Procedure (ROP), and a Practice Direction for Electronic Hearings was published, providing general information about electronic hearings before the HRAP.

Since April 1, 2020, the HRAP Secretariat has received 59 new Notice of Appeals and has facilitated 41 electronic hearings over 51 days.

The HRAP Secretariat continues to monitor the pandemic, with the safety, health and wellbeing of our stakeholders, parties and staff as our top priority.

Statistical report for 2020–2021

Statistical report for 2020–2021

Appeals

Number of Notices of Appeal filed with HRAP in 2019–20

Number of Notices of Appeal filed with HRAP in 2020–21

63

59

 

Appeals, by type of infraction

2019–20

2020–21

Interference

16

14

Human Alcohol or Drug

0

0

Equine Drug or Medication

10

20

Urging

26

12

Other Racing Violation

11

13

Motions

Number of motions

70

 

Stay Motions

Other Types of Motions

44

26

Hearings

In-Person Hearings

Total Hearing Days

41

51

Appeal Hearings

Motion Hearings

33

8