By Sarah Klein
Assiniboia Downs
The Manitoba Jockey Club has been granted a full, expedited judicial review to begin April 26.
The hearing in Court of Queen’s Bench will attempt to halt any alleged action by the Manitoba government to devalue Assiniboia Downs by cutting off funding to the horse racing track to turn over operations and property to the Red River Exhibition as part of any expansion plans.
The complaint lists Manitoba Finance Minister Stan Struthers, Red River Exhibition CEO Garth Rogerson, and RCMP “D” Division in Winnipeg and the Attorney General of Canada to investigate for breach of trust and fraud, among other allegations.
“There is an overwhelming public interest in having these matters objectively subjected to a fair, impartial and unbiased police investigation,” said MJC lawyer Hersh Wolch.
The Manitoba Jockey Club provides nearly 500 full-time jobs per year and has generated $68 million in revenue over the past 20 years.
The allegations haven’t been proven in court.
