Trainer Jimmy Gagnon suspended for 18 months for violating racing rules
The ruling stems from Gagnon's collaboration with Carol Voyer, a trainer previously suspended for three years.
Key points:
– Trainer Jimmy Gagnon was suspended for 18 months and fined CAD2,500 for violating racing rules
– Gagnon collaborated with suspended trainer Carol Voyer, who now faces an additional 18-month ban
– AGCO disqualified two horses trained by Gagnon and redistributed race purses from seven events
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has suspended standardbred trainer Jimmy Gagnon for 18 months and fined him CA$2,500 (US$1,750) for breaching the Rules of Standardbred Racing.
The ruling, published on 3 February 2025, found that Gagnon collaborated with suspended trainer Carol Voyer to circumvent Voyer’s ban from the sport.
Voyer had previously been suspended for three years in July 2023 and fined CAD11,000 following the suspicious death of a racehorse.
Despite this, AGCO investigations revealed that Voyer continued to be involved in training and racing activities, relaying instructions through Gagnon. The AGCO also determined that Gagnon misled officials during the investigation.
As a result, Gagnon’s suspension will run from 5 February 2025 to 5 August 2026.
Good to know: Under AGCO regulations, licensed trainers must be fully accountable for their horses, and any attempt to obscure the identity of a trainer is considered a violation
Additionally, Voyer’s original three-year ban has been extended by 18 months, preventing him from participating in racing until 19 January 2028.
The AGCO has also disqualified two horses trained by Gagnon – Laa Dee Gaa and Butterfly Kisses – and ordered purse redistribution for seven races held between March and May 2024.
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