Former California race track owner Frank Stronach arrested for sexual assault

Austrian-Canadian billionaire and former owner of Santa Anita Park Frank Stronach (here at the 2013 National Council elections in Vienna) has been charged with sexual harassment dating back to the 1980s. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

TORONTO – Austrian-Canadian auto parts billionaire and former owner of Santa Anita Park Frank Stronach has been arrested on decades-old sexual assault charges, police said.

The 91-year-old was charged Friday with five crimes, including rape, sexual assault of a woman, sexual battery and false imprisonment, Peel Regional Police said. He was released on conditions and will appear at a later date in the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton, Ontario, the police statement said.

Peel Region Police Detective Tyler Bell said there was more than one accuser but declined to say how many.

“This is obviously a case that is attracting a lot of attention. Our special victims unit is committed to protecting victims and that is why we are remaining vague,” Bell said. “There is more than one victim, but we cannot confirm the number yet.”

Police believe the sexual assaults took place between the 1980s and 2023. Bell said they are appealing to anyone who has information or has been a victim to come forward.

Stronach, owner of a three-time Eclipse Award-winning thoroughbred, bought Santa Anita Park in Arcadia for $127 million from Meditrust Cos. in 1998. He later founded the Stronach Group, a horse racing, entertainment and parimutuel betting technology company, with his daughter Belinda in 2011, but resigned two years later to run for office in his native Austria.

Stronach no longer plays a role in the Stronach Group, which still owns Santa Anita. In 2018, he filed suit against his daughter and family members alleging mismanagement. The suit was settled in 2020, and Stronach and his wife were given ownership of a stallion and breeding operation. Belinda Stronach, who renamed the Stronach Group 1/ST, retained full control of all horse racing, gambling, real estate and related assets.

In a statement released late Friday, the Stronach Group said: “The Stronach Group is aware of the serious allegations against Frank Stronach. Frank Stronach has not held any official position for several years and is not involved in any other capacity with the company. This matter is now before the courts and will be dealt with in the appropriate forum. The company has nothing further to add.”

Stronach did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He has hired well-known Canadian criminal defense attorney Brian Greenspan.

“Mr. Stronach categorically denies the allegations of wrongdoing against him,” Greenspan said in an email. “He looks forward to the opportunity to fully respond to the allegations and to upholding his legacy as a philanthropist and icon of Canadian business.”

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