“These standardbred breeders have implored the government over the past two years to sit down and have a discussion with them, to try and repair some of the damage that's been done to their business, and did not want to have to file a lawsuit.”

The comments that appear above have come from Toronto-based lawyer Ian Matthews, who is representing a group on Ontario Standardbred breeders that recently announced its lawsuit against the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.

Matthews’ comments have come via an article by the Sudbury Star. In regard to the timing of the lawsuit, Matthews was quoted as saying, “…with the limitation period expiring, and the government not wanting to have that conversation, they (the breeders) had to take steps to preserve their rights.”

Matthews was quoted as saying that the breeders “really believe they were left with no choice” and that the time of the action is “a practical problem, because if you want to start a lawsuit, you have two years from which the event occurs to do so.”

Seelster Farms’ Walter Parkinson, who is also president of the Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association, spoke with Christina Howorun of CTV News London earlier this week regarding the situation.

(With files from the Sudbury Star)