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Gone but not forgotten, two promising apprentices from 1967

Gone but not forgotten, two promising apprentices from 1967

by Bob This week we remember two promising young apprentices who got their start at Assiniboia Downs in the 1960s, Bobbie Dimma and Vernon Sayler. Most of us are familiar with "Bobbie". Yes, that's how his name appeared on his birth certificate, Bobbie not Robert,...

Irwin Driedger, the Jock with the Golden Locks

Irwin Driedger, the Jock with the Golden Locks

by Bob Clifford "Shorty" Gray hired 11-year-old Irwin Driedger as an exercise rider. The young blonde schoolboy from Russell, Manitoba tipped the scales at 78 pounds and got his first win on a race track at the Neepawa Fair Grounds on horse named Admiral Zenith. Who...

Pool to Market and Bobby Stewart, magic in the 1967 Gold Cup

Pool to Market and Bobby Stewart, magic in the 1967 Gold Cup

by Bob On August 5, 1967 the stars above Assiniboia Downs aligned perfectly for rider Robert Roy "Bobby" Stewart and his chestnut charge Pool to Market, and the pair put on a fabulous show for the 5,000-plus patrons that filed into the track that evening. The closest...

2014 Manitoba Derby Entries

2014 Manitoba Derby Entries

Manitoba Derby, 66th Running Distance: 1 1/8 Miles. Age: 3-Year-Olds. Purse: $75,000 Guaranteed Weights: Fillies, 121 lbs. Colts & Geldings, 124 lbs. Fees: $100 to nominate - $700 to enter - $700 to start Click horse names for more information. Post Horse &...

2014 Manitoba Derby Entries

Manitoba Derby competitors have both strengths and weaknesses

by Rob The seven horses in Monday's Manitoba Derby make up a competitive field that should provide both a fast pace and a closing kick, which makes for a wonderful show! All of the competitors have strengths that make them interesting, but also have weaknesses that...

Northern Contract – 2014 Manitoba Derby Contenders

Northern Contract – 2014 Manitoba Derby Contenders

by George Northern Contract is just getting started in his career but he has already won three of six starts including the local Golden Boy Stakes. Trainer Don Schnell thought highly enough of the son of Northern Afleet to run him in the Turf Paradise Derby in his...

Street Prancer – 2014 Manitoba Derby Contenders

Street Prancer – 2014 Manitoba Derby Contenders

by George Street Prancer has been looking for a perfect spot to run in. The Manitoba Derby fits the bill. And his Eclipse Award winning trainer Steve Asmussen certainly knows where to run his horses. Asmussen currently ranks second in North America with 189 wins and...

Storm Chance – 2014 Manitoba Derby Contenders

Storm Chance – 2014 Manitoba Derby Contenders

by George Stormello had both speed and courage, with his best performance being a game nose loss to Scat Daddy in the 2007 Fountain of Youth-G1 going the distance of the Manitoba Derby, 1 1/8-miles, as he was just beginning his 3-year-old career. Stormello passed on...