What we do: Horse racing

The AGCO regulates horse racing under the Horse Racing Licence Act, 2015 (HRLA).

The AGCO ensures that horse racing in Ontario is conducted with integrity, honesty and in the public interest, and ensures that there is fairness and safety in racing. The AGCO enforces the Rules of Racing which all licensees must follow. These rules focus on maintaining integrity and safety in horse racing.  

The AGCO issues licences and registrations to individuals and businesses involved in the horse racing industry, including new racetrack owners, teletheatre locations, and horsepersons (e.g., grooms, trainers, etc.). AGCO licensing agents are available during live racing for the convenience of licensees, to help with online transactions. ng for the convenience of licensees, to help with online transactions.  

This function is performed by AGCO inspectors and includes, among other things:  

• administering human drug testing and breathalyzer programs  
• conducting searches for prohibited items (e.g., drugs, syringes)  
• enforcing racetrack security requirements.  

Learn more about the AGCO’s compliance activities.  

The AGCO provides officials (Judges or Stewards) to supervise races conducted at Ontario’s licensed racetracks. The duties of a racing official include:  

• enforcing the Rules of Racing  
• determining regulatory action for rule violations  
• conducting reviews of regulatory matters as required.   

The AGCO’s Regulatory Compliance Branch and the Investigation and Enforcement Bureau are responsible for:  

• investigations of the more serious racing violations, such as fraud and hidden ownerships  
• due diligence investigations on licence applicants or licensees  
• investigations related to animal welfare, race fixing or other racing and rule infractions, as well as investigating horse deaths  
• monitoring and enforcing equine medication control programs  
• liaising between the AGCO, the police community and other civilian regulatory bodies within and outside of Ontario  
• enforcement of Judges/Stewards’ orders and rulings

The AGCO is committed to protecting and promoting the welfare of Ontario’s racehorses, through the out-of-competition drug testing program and inspections to ensure appropriate use of therapeutic drugs. The AGCO collaborates with the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency (CPMA) who oversees the post-race equine drug testing program, in order to prevent the misuse of equine drugs.  

Services of the program include:  

• conducting reviews of positive tests, inspections, and determining penalties and suspensions, under the AGCO Rules of Racing  
• ensuring a veterinary presence during race days, conducting pre-race exams  
• enforcing legislative protection of racehorses to prevent neglect and abuse  
• enforcing in-race specific rules, such as interference and over-urging  
• conducting accident and death reviews and inspections  
• providing welfare and integrity initiatives

The AGCO annually licenses racetracks and reviews racetrack business plans, backstretch improvement and fire safety plans and health and safety improvements as part of this process. The AGCO also approves the race dates applied for by racetracks.