Horse Racing Appeal Panel

Established through the Horse Racing Licence Act, 2015, the Horse Racing Appeal Panel (HRAP) 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 separate 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 31, 2025

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

Eric Anthony Clear (Tony) Williams

MEMBER

First Appointed: July 22, 2020

Term Expires: July 21, 2023

Dr. John Hayes

MEMBER

First Appointed: April 1, 2016

Term Expires: March 31, 2023		  

 

Year in Review

In March 2022, Stanley Sadinsky was appointed for an additional three-year term as HRAP Chair.

The year presented further challenges to the horse racing industry owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and temporary shutdowns of racing. Throughout the year, the HRAP’s focus remained on ensuring a fair and accessible adjudicative process for all participants while continuing to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our frontline staff, stakeholders and the public.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in accordance with the Rules of Racing (Rule 3.8), the HRAP adjourned all in-person hearings in March 2020 and turned to electronic hearings beginning in July 2020. Throughout 2021–22, hearings continued to be offered through an electronic format. These 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.

The HRAP received a total of 32 Notices of Appeal and heard a total of 36 virtual hearings over the course of 60 hearing days for the fiscal year. In doing so, it eliminated its entire backlog of cases. In the “A” hearings stream, which are usually complex cases with significant consequences, regular pre-hearing conferences have helped shorten the process. With regard to the less complex “B” hearings, the average time from appeal filing to hearing was 48.5 days (down from 96 days in 2019–20).

Statistical Report for 2021–22

Table 37—Notices of Appeal

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

Number of Notices of Appeal filed with HRAP in 2021–22

59

32

 

Table 38—Appeals by type of infraction

 

2020–21

2021–22

Interference

14

10

Human Alcohol or Drug

0

0

Equine Drug or Medication

20

7

Urging

12

4

Other Racing Violation

13

11

 

Table 39—Motions

Number of Motions
43

Stay Motions

Orders

Other Types of Motions

16

19

8

 

Table 40—Hearings

Electronic Hearings

Extra Multi-hearing Days

Total Hearing Days

36

24

60

Appeal Hearings

Stay Hearings

Motion Hearings

26

4

6