This is an unofficial version of the Act as of the day it was repealed.
If you need an official copy, use the bilingual (PDF) version.
REPEALED
Date: April 1, 2022
C.C.S.M. c. H90
The Horse Racing Commission Act
HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, enacts as follows:
In this Act
"commission" means The Horse Racing Commission continued under section 2; (« Commission »)
"member" means a member of the commission; (« membre »)
"minister" means the member of the Executive Council charged by the Lieutenant Governor in Council with the administration of this Act; (« ministre »)
"race meeting" means a series of any form of horse races conducted or sponsored by any person or organization, whether on one day or each of a series of days; (« réunion de course »)
"race track" means a race track in Manitoba at which any form of horse racing is carried on. (« piste de course »)
"The Horse Racing Commission", is hereby continued, and shall be composed of not less than three members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.
The members shall hold office during the pleasure of the Lieutenant Governor in Council and shall receive such remuneration as may be fixed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.
The Lieutenant Governor in Council shall name one member to be chairman of the commission and one member to be vice-chairman of the commission.
When the chairman is absent or unable to act, the vice-chairman shall act in his place and stead.
At any meeting of the commission
(a) a majority of the members constitutes a quorum; and
(b) a majority vote of the members determines any question.
In addition to his ordinary vote, the chairman has a casting vote on any question.
The commission may appoint such officers, clerks, and employees as may be required for the proper conduct of the affairs of the commission, and shall fix their salaries or remuneration.
The commission may appoint and employ stewards, veterinarians, analysts and such other persons as the commission thinks advisable to attend at race meetings and race tracks on behalf of the commission, and may fix their remuneration, and may charge and collect from the operator of the race track or the person holding the race meeting fees for the attendance or services of such stewards, veterinarians, analysts or other persons.
The salaries and expenses of the members of the commission, and of the officers, clerks, and other employees of the commission, and generally all costs, charges, and expenses incurred and payable in respect of the carrying out of the affairs of the commission, shall be paid out of the revenue of the commission.
Advances from Consolidated Fund
From the Consolidated Fund without legislative authority or appropriation other than this Act, the Minister of Finance with the approval of, and subject to such conditions and terms as may be fixed by, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may advance to the commission such moneys as it requires from time to time.
The Lieutenant Governor in Council may direct that any surplus in the revenues of the commission over its expenditures shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.
The commission shall keep proper records of its affairs and shall keep such accounts of its revenues and expenditures as the Auditor General may require; and it may maintain a separate bank account in a bank or trust company in which all revenues of the commission shall be deposited and from which all debts and liabilities of the commission shall be paid.
The accounts of the commission shall be audited by the Auditor General or by such other auditor as the Minister of Finance may appoint.
S.M. 2001, c. 39, s. 31; S.M. 2002, c. 47, s. 30; S.M. 2018, c. 29, s. 19.
The commission has the following powers:
(a) to control and regulate the forms of horse racing specified in the regulations;
(b) to control and regulate the classes of race tracks specified in the regulations;
(c) to enforce compliance with this Act, the regulations and rules made under this Act and any conditions attached to a licence;
(d) to fix, impose and collect fines and other penalties for contravening this Act or the regulations or rules made under it or for failing to comply with any conditions attached to a licence.
[Repealed] S.M. 2005, c. 19, s. 1.
The commission may, in writing, delegate all or any of the powers conferred upon the commission by this Act or any other Act to any member of the commission, or any person appointed or employed by the commission or whose appointment or employment is approved by the commission under or for the purposes of this Act or The Pari-Mutuel Levy Act.
The commission may hold hearings relating to any of its powers or duties under this Act or any other Act, and for that purpose, subject to subsection (4), the commission has protection and powers, and is subject to like requirements, as are conferred on, or required of, commissioners appointed under Part V of The Manitoba Evidence Act.
Section 93 of The Manitoba Evidence Act does not apply to the commission and no notice of appointment, of the purpose and scope of the inquiry that is to be made by the commission, or of the time and place of holding the first meeting of the commission, need be published as required under section 86 of The Manitoba Evidence Act.
S.M. 1991-92, c. 34, s. 2; S.M. 1996, c. 44, s. 38; S.M. 2005, c. 19, s. 1.
Additional duties and functions
The commission shall perform such duties and functions as may be imposed upon it, or as it may be directed, by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.
The commission and any steward, veterinarian, analyst or other person appointed under subsection 6(2) may
(a) enter and inspect any part of a race track or any stables, stands, offices, or quarters operated as part of or in conjunction with a race track;
(b) enter and inspect the offices or premises of any person or organization operating a race track or who or which conducts race meetings;
(c) inspect, seize and, if deemed advisable, make copies of any record, account, or document found in any place mentioned in clause (a) or (b);
(d) make tests and analysis of horses at race tracks or which participate in race meetings, and for that purpose take samples of blood, saliva, urine, or other material necessary for the tests or analysis.
The commission may, in its absolute discretion, grant or refuse to grant any licence, registration or approval required under this Act or the regulations.
No person operating a race track or conducting a race meeting shall employ or appoint any employee or official to perform duties specified in the regulations as relating to the actual running of horse races unless the commission has first approved the employee or official.
The commission may for cause require any employee or official employed or appointed by a person operating a race track or conducting a race meeting to perform duties specified in the regulations as relating to the actual running of horse races to be discharged.
Books of account of track operators, etc.
Every person operating a race track or conducting a race meeting shall keep books of account satisfactory to the commission.
The commission shall within three months after the end of each fiscal year make an annual report to the minister, which shall include the audited financial statements of the Pari-Mutuel Levy Fund established under The Pari-Mutuel Levy Act.
Without delay after receiving an annual report under subsection (1), the minister shall lay a copy of it before the Legislative Assembly if it is then in session, and, if it is not, then the minister shall lay a copy of the report before the Legislative Assembly within 15 days after the beginning of the next session.
The commission shall, at the request of the minister,
(a) report on specific matters; and
(b) make periodic reports on specific matters.
For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act according to their intent, the commission may make such regulations and rules as are ancillary thereto and are not inconsistent therewith; and every regulation and rule made under, and in accordance with the authority granted by, this section has the force of law; and without restricting the generality of the foregoing, the commission may make regulations and rules,
(a) respecting the conduct of its affairs and the control and direction of its work and functions;
(b) requiring persons operating race tracks or conducting race meetings to be licensed;
(c) requiring race horse owners, race horse trainers, drivers, jockeys, apprentice jockeys, grooms, jockeys' agents, jockeys' valets, exercise boys, tradesmen, concessionnaires and other persons working or employed in or about race tracks, or employed by the operators of race tracks, or by persons conducting race meetings, to be licensed or registered;
(d) require the owners of race horses to register racing colours, assumed names, partnerships, and contracts, and such other matters and things as the commission deems advisable;
(e) specify certain duties carried on at race tracks or race meetings relating to the actual running of horse races for the purposes of section 11;
(f) prescribing fees and other charges for the issuing of any licence, or for any registration or approval, required under this Act or the regulations, or for any application for any such licence, registration, or approval;
(g) prescribing the form for any licence, registration, or approval required under this Act or the regulations;
(h) prescribing the terms and conditions under which any licence, registration, or approval, required under this Act or the regulations, is issued or granted;
(i) prescribing rules for the conduct of race meetings.
Regulations approved by L.G. in C.
The commission may, subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, make regulations that are ancillary to this Act and not inconsistent therewith,
(a) fixing and allocating the number of days during which any kind of horse racing shall be held in the province;
(a.1) specifying the forms of horse racing and the classes of race tracks that the commission must regulate; and
(b) fixing the number of race meetings that may be held in any area in the province.
Neither the commission, nor any member of the commission, nor any person appointed or employed by the commission under or for the purposes of this Act or The Pari-Mutuel Levy Act, nor any person to whom a power is delegated under subsection 9(2.1), is liable for any loss or damage resulting from anything done or omitted to be done in good faith in the course of the administration of this Act or The Pari-Mutuel Levy Act.
S.M. 1991-92, c. 34, s. 3; S.M. 1996, c. 44, s. 38; S.M. 2005, c. 19, s. 1.