Billionaire racehorse owner, 91, arrested and charged with sexual assault

One of the most successful owner-breeders in world racing has been arrested and charged with multiple sexual assault offences.

Frank Stronach, 91, has won over 1,700 races in the US and Canada, including five Breeders’ Cup races, three in the Classic.

His colours have been carried by champions such as Ghostzapper. Ginger Punch, Macho Uno. Mucho Macho Man and Awesome Again. He owned horses in Britain in the early nineties.

Austrian-born Stronach emigrated to Canada in 1954 where he made his fortune in the automotive parts industry.

He went on to found the group which owns Santa Anita, Gulfstream Park and Pimlico racetracks in the US with his daughter Belinda, but he is no longer involved with the business.

On Friday police in Peel, Ontario, announced that investigators from the Special Victimns Unit had arrested and charged a 91-year-old male from Aurora in connection with a sexual assault investigation

A police statement said: “It is alleged that the sexual assaults spanned from the 1980’s to as recent as 2023.

“On June 7, 2024, Frank Stronach was arrested and charged with five criminal offences, rape, indecent assault on a female, sexual assault x2 and forcible confinement.

“He has been released on conditions and will appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton at a later date.

“Police are appealing to members of the public to come forward if they have any relevant information.”

Stronach denies the charges with his lawyer Brian Greenspan saying in a statement: “Mr Stronach categorically denies the allegations of impropriety which have been brought against him.

“He looks forward to the opportunity to fully respond to the charges and to maintain his legacy both as a philanthropist and as an icon of the Canadian business community.”