It has been reported that the Manitoba Jockey Club, operators of Assiniboia Downs, have filed a $350 million lawsuit against the provincial government, the Red River Exhibition and Manitoba Finance Minister Stan Struthers. The MJC is also reportedly filing a $15 million suit against the Red River Exhibition Association and its CEO, Garth Rogerson.
The news comes courtesy of a report by the Winnipeg Free Press, which states that the lawsuits come on the heels of a ruling by the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench earlier this month.
The ruling from earlier this month stated that the province cannot immediately remove as much as $5 million of the $9.5 million in funding the MJC currently receives from the province -- an aspect of the ruling which the MJC is in favour of. Although, the ruling also stated that the province has the authority to amend or change legislation so that funding which is currently earmarked for the MJC be redirected to other areas -- an aspect of the ruling that the province is in favour of.
Court dates for the proceedings have yet to be set, but, as the Winnipeg Free Press article explains, the MJC is alleging that Minister Struthers conspired with the Red River Exhibition to develop a plan which would see the MJC end up in bankruptcy. The bankruptcy would thus then allow control of Assiniboia Downs to be taken over by the Red River Exhibition.
(With files from the Winnipeg Free Press)
I hope this lawsuit fails due
I hope this lawsuit fails due to the no respect the jockey club has for other breds. rt mcallister, standardbred breeder.