by Bob Gates On Saturday, June 29 "The Speers" celebrates its 60th running, but what most don’t realize is that there is more than 90 years of history behind the race that honours Robert James Speers, the "Father of Thoroughbred Horse Racing" on the Canadian prairies....
Year: 2019
Yorkshire Lad CCR. $20 Wager Led to a Life-Long Career in Horse Racing.
by Bob Gates Following the death of one of the most popular and respected men in the history of thoroughbred racing in Western Canada in July 1977, Winnipeg Free Press sports editor Maurice Smith wondered, “Who among the loyal followers of horse racing in Winnipeg...
A Man and his Horse: The Tale of “Slim” Keith & Contributor
by Bob Gates "Someday, in the future, when a historian begins to record the story of western racing there will be a chapter for gallant little Joey - the Duchess of York - for Help Yourself and Yorkie Prince - for Madgu Don and for the men who, fired with their love...
The Big Man from South Dakota is Gone
by Bob Gates Sunday, May 26 was a typical afternoon on the backside at Assiniboia Downs, after all, horses don’t do weekends. But this Sunday, Death came calling, and when he left the Sayler family was stricken with grief. Ardell Sayler had been taken. Ardell's many...
From cheap punch line to the pride of Canada
by Bob Gates "A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust…" A catchy start for telling the tale of a thoroughbred, but not so much if it's the story of Traffic Sub. Traffic Sub was born and raised on the Minnesota homestead of his breeder George Monroe 50...
A Tale of Two Bobbys: May 3, 1969 – The Best of Times. May 3, 1985 – The Worst of Times.
by Bob Gates The 2019 racing season is loaded with special anniversaries. Last week it was Barbara Jo Rubin and this week belongs to another jockey, Robert Roy "Bobby" Stewart. In 1969 the American Triple Crown races turned into a duel between Calgary resident Frank...
Happy 50th Barbara Jo!
by Bob Gates On May 16, 1969, 19-year-old, Barbara Jo Rubin became the first female jockey to win a race at Assiniboia Downs. It's hard to believe, but a half century has passed since Barbara Jo's record-setting performance. Miss Rubin was a young jockey struggling to...
62nd Season at Assiniboia Downs in the starting gate! Milestones and Memories.
by Bob Gates The crazy Kentucky Derby is in the books for another year, so you know live racing at Assiniboia Downs can't be far off. Season #62 at the Downs breaks out of the starting gate at 1:15 p.m. on Mothers' Day, Sunday, May 12, and it should be a banner year!...