The Winnipeg Free Press Trophy (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) By Track Historian Bob Gates On Tuesday, June 23, 2026, the Free Press Stakes celebrated its 66th running and our congratulations go out to the winning connections. The history of the race dates back...
Nu Soup for Baby (#2 inside) and jockey Kerron Khelawan on their way to a 39-1 upset in the third race on Wednesday for trainer Brian Phillips. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) Former Hastings Park trainer Brian Phillips pulled off a major upset this week with a...
Assiniboia Downs History Case (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) By Track Historian Bob Gates The “Racing Through Time” display in the front lobby has a fresh look to it for the 2026 racing season. Have you noticed? You know the area we’re talking about, just inside...
Jack Robertson Celebration of Life, May 27, 2026 (Robertson Family) By Track Historian Bob Gates Some of you might recognize our title as a 1993 song by Blue Rodeo. Songwriter Jim Cuddy used the lyrics to describe the “familiar, timeless feeling of a deep connection...
Groom Charlotte Stevens leads Bergheim out of the winner’s circle after his victory in the $50,000 Beau Blade Stakes on Tuesday for trainer Jerry Gourneau. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) By G.S. Thompson The first stakes races of the 2026 season at ASD got...
Danelson's Omaha Warrior is HBPA's Top 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding for 2025 (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) By Track Historian Bob Gates You might wonder why a three-year-old gelding with four career starts somehow rates a historical blog story, and that’s a fair...
,First-time starter Acquire and Shavon Townsend win the sixth race on Wednesday for trainer Jason Homer, giving Homer a 1-2-3 finish in the race. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) By G.S. Thompson Most people consider trainer stats and percentages when they’re...
Some of the K5 awards on display at the K-Tel head office trophy case 2013 (Bob Gates photo) By Track Historian Bob Gates It’s hard to believe that K5’s Philip Kives has been gone for ten years. The memory of April 27, 2016, remains strong. In the late afternoon,...
Leading trainer Jerry Gourneau was all smiles after scoring a natural hat trick in the first three races on Wednesday. He went on to win five of the six races on the card. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) By G.S. Thompson Trainer Jerry Gourneau served notice on...
Dick Armstrong, September 28, 1940 – November 16, 2009 (Gerry Hart photo) By Track Historian Bob Gates Five, four, three, two, one, and they’re off! On May 12, 2026, Assiniboia Downs launched season #69 and once again my universe was back in sync. It was a cool spring...