AGCO clears Fort Erie Race Track August race of wrongdoing

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has cleared a race held last month at the Fort Erie Race Track of any wrongdoing.

The AGCO told the racetrack it was reviewing a race that was held on Aug. 4, after Princess O Denmark — the 6-to-5 favourite — had gained a lead of six lengths going into the first turn, but was then beaten by three-quarters of a length at the wire.

At the time, the announcer said the horse was “in a race of her own”, but found the way the race ended “very perplexing.”

Kirk Johnson, the jockey who rode Princess O Denmark, said that during the final stages of the race he tried to ride her more aggressively, but felt that she didn’t respond and instead slowed down.

Princess O Denmark’s trainer Richard Davis said the horse is very difficult to ride and train, and that she has difficulty finishing her races.

After reviewing her previous races, the AGCO confirmed in a report released Monday, that the horse tended to fade badly toward the end of her races.

“It is clear that Princess O Denmark presented certain challenges to her rider that resulted in an unusual trip that caught the attention of race officials and the wagering public alike,” the AGCO said in a statement.

“Despite looking over his shoulder down the stretch, the AGCO found that Johnson was merely assessing the situation in order to finish the race as best he could.”

The Crown agency worked with The Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency and said that there were no irregular betting patterns surrounding the race.

“The (AGCO) stewards have accepted Mr. Johnson’s explanation that, given the challenges of riding this particular filly, he was judging his lead so he could try to ration her speed to the wire as much as possible,” the AGCO said in the report.

“In consideration of all available information, the AGCO stewards are satisfied that Mr. Johnson and the connections had every intention of winning Race 4 on Aug. 4th, 2025, and that there were no violations of the rules of racing.”

READ MORE: Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario reviewing race at Fort Erie Race Track