Amber Fehr was a successful participant in the 2025 Racehorse Groom Training Program! For anyone who has ever dreamed of working with racehorses, the HBPA of Manitoba Inc. is offering a unique chance to gain hands-on experience through a 4-week paid training program....
Trainer Lise Pruitt with 2024 Rangatira Stakes winner Explosive. (George Williams) by G. S. Thompson "I can't wait to start," said trainer Lise Pruitt. "Can't wait." Pruitt is looking forward to the start of the 2025 live racing season at Assiniboia Downs on Tuesday,...
Trainer Judy Hunter has won 459 races at a 21-percent clip over the course of her 47-year career. (George Williams) by G. S. Thompson When Judy Hunter walks through the backstretch at Assiniboia Downs, you can feel the weight of racing history moving alongside her. At...
Top ASD trainer Jared Brown enjoying a walk in the backstretch Thursday morning. by G. S. Thompson Trainer Jared Brown is back in action at Assiniboia Downs with a 26-horse stable, and it appears he could be heading for another great year. Brown, who first arrived at...
by G. S. Thompson "Longshot Les" Buzzell captured his second Player's Choice Handicapping Tournament title at Assiniboia Downs last Saturday, but if you think he did it by taking wild stabs in the dark, think again. The 61-year-old Montreal native, who owns a...
Brian "Ivan Bigg" Gory By G. S. Thompson Brian Gory, known to many in the racing world as "Ivan Bigg," passed away on March 20, 2025, at 4:55 a.m. – symbolically on the first day of spring – after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 81, just eight days shy...
Trainer Mike Taphorn with Manitoba-bred star No Show No Call. (George Williams) By G. S. Thompson Assistant Director of Racing Derek Corbel reports there are now 200 horses on the grounds as opening day Tuesday, May 13 fast approaches, with four more trainers shipping...
Hannah Kraychuk has been grooming horses for trainer Jared Brown for four years. She loves her work. And her horses. (George Williams) Learn How to Become a Racehorse Groom! Spring training is underway and the annual Manitoba HBPA Groom School is now taking...
Saskatchewan sire Vindgari is a half brother to Grade 1 stakes winner Geri, shown here winning the 1997 Woodbine Mile. (Michael Burns photo) by G. S. Thompson We complete our analysis of Manitoba/Saskatchewan stallions this week with our final three sires: Vindgari,...
Groom Katie Morris in the ASD backstretch (George Williams photo) Horses have arrived in the ASD backstretch for 2025! Trainers Wendy Anderson, Mike Taphorn, and Devon Gittens all have horses in the backstretch now with more coming in shortly. The training track is...