by Melissa Keith

Six scratches, four of them in Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Super Final events, were the unwanted undercurrent on Friday night (Oct. 13) at Woodbine Mohawk Park. A release issued Friday evening by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) stated that trainer Anthony Beaton was suspended “immediately before the races” by AGCO Chief Operating Officer Dave Phillips. This year, Beaton has conditioned the winners of $1,756,542 in purse money, with 80 wins from 467 starts. With 2023 Breeders Crown eliminations scheduled for Oct. 19-21 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, there will be as-yet unknown repercussions for the trainer’s Grand Circuit horses like open pacer Linedrive Hanover (p,5, 1:47.0s; $459,777) and 3-year-old pacing colt Redwood Hanover (p, 3, 1:49.0s; $234,443).

Training his own stable in Ontario since 2017, Beaton had previously spent 10 years working for multiple-O’Brien Trainer of the Year (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013) Casie Coleman, now based at Sunshine Meadows in Boynton Beach, FL. Coleman told HRU in June 2023 that she was sending 14 horses to Beaton in Canada: “[10] 2-year-olds, three 3-year-olds and Linedrive Hanover,” plus a Betterthancheddar colt she co-owned with him, as she is primarily focused on developing young horses now.

The horses scratched Friday at WMP were:

Race 2, Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Super Final, 2-year-old pacing fillies:

Coco Jo Jo (p,2, 1:54.1s; $58,081), owned by Robert Bridges, Campbellville, ON;

Wicked Weather (p, 2, 1:53.3s; $40,135), owned by S S G Stables, North Boston, NY.

Race 5:

Duchenne (p, 3, 1:51.3s; $48,251), a 3-year-old pacing filly owned by Beaton; David Mercer, Westmount, NS; Mac Nichol, Burlington, ON; and April Campbell, Dundas, ON.

Race 7, Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Super Final, 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings:

Nijinsky (p,2,1:53.4s; $72,735), owned by West Wins Stable, Wellington, FL; John Fielding, Scarborough, ON; and Mark Dumain, Pine Bush, NY;

Wikipedia (p, 2, 1:54.1s; $41,791) owned by S S G Stables, North Boston, NY.

Race 13:

Powder Play (p, 3, 1:52.1s; $40,951), a 3-year-old pacing filly owned by Robert Woodburn, St. Thomas, ON.

Saturday (Oct. 14), Beaton’s only horse entered at WMP was also scratched:

Race 7, Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Super Final, 3-year-old pacing fillies:

Lyons Bettorday (p, 3, 1:49.4; $254,015), owned by Threelyonsracing, Brantford, ON.

In the official WMP Oct. 13 AGCO senior judges report from senior racing official Fred Brethour, the reason for Beaton’s sudden, indefinite suspension was revealed to be his involvement in “conduct prejudicial to the best interest of racing” which “comprised equine safety and/or welfare” that happened at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

A more detailed explanation followed in an AGCO release:

“To safeguard the integrity of horse racing and to prioritize the well-being and safety of racehorses, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has suspended Anthony Beaton, a standardbred trainer, for conduct prejudicial to the best interest of racing effective as of Oct. 13, 2023.

“After receiving complaints, the AGCO’s ongoing inspection revealed that Mr. Beaton engaged in conduct prejudicial to the best interest of racing when he used repeated force that caused injury to a horse, thereby compromising equine safety and welfare.”

The name of the horse and additional details were not disclosed as of Oct. 14 HRU publication deadline. Beaton did not respond to an HRU query about the allegations or suspension. It was expected that he would appeal the AGCO decision.  

Beaton’s stable is currently based at Classy Lane Training Centre in Puslinch, ON, where Ross Buurma is owner/operator.

“I’m not in the loop about what transpired,” Buurma told HRU Saturday night (Oct. 14). “I was made aware that there was an incident near the barns [late last week], but I was not present for it and don’t know any of the details of what transpired, at all.”

A candid Buurma added that he did not know the specifics of the horse involved or even what happened. “I can’t speak to that, either,” Buurma said. “I heard the horse was fine afterward, but I did not personally see the horse. I don’t know the name of the horse.”

He said he was blindsided by Beaton’s suspension: “He never seems to have a problem with getting help, and he’s got a very large stable, and I think that speaks to his abilities and capabilities… He’s a stand-up guy in the industry.”

Beaton is eligible to file an appeal with the independent Horse Racing Appeal Panel (HRAP). The horses he trained may be transferred to another trainer under conditions specified by AGCO rules.