Taboga wins the 1976 Manitoba Maturity. Her longtime companion, Rick Ball, far right. By G.S. Thompson A few weeks ago we wrote about Rick Ball and his favourite horse, Taboga. Sadly, Rick passed away on November 5, shortly after our final interview with him. During...
By Travers Cummings 49ers over Colts (Monday night): My 49ers will take their four-game winning streak into Indianapolis to take on the Colts and the corpse of what was once Phillip Rivers. Last week was Rivers' first start in four years, and he looked very,...
Donna Johnston (left) with sisters Marion and Linda (right) and their horse Wire Me the Money in the Assiniboia Downs backstretch. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) By G.S. Thompson Remembering Donna Johnston Longtime Assiniboia Downs trainer Donna Johnston...
By Travers Cummings Bengals over Ravens (Sunday noon): I have officially washed my hands of the Baltimore Ravens, and more specifically, Lamar Jackson. I don't know if he's more hurt than the team wants to say, but he just doesn't have any of the explosiveness he once...
Betterlucknexttime (#6) and Antonio Whitehall on their way to victory in the $40,000 J.W. Sifton Stakes. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) By G.S. Thompson Manitoba-breds put on quite the show again in 2025, with the top five earners all cracking the $50,000 mark...
By Travers Cummings Ravens over Steelers (Sunday noon): Both these teams seem to be heading in the wrong direction at a very crucial point in the season. The Ravens somehow managed to lose to the Bengals last week and showed absolutely no fight in doing so. They were...
John Whitehill won the November Player’s Choice Tourney at ASD with a huge bankroll of $136.60! By G.S. Thompson Retired bricklayer John Whitehill outdistanced the field to win the November Player's Choice Handicapping Tournament at ASD last Saturday with a big winner...
Happy Thanksgiving to any Americans that happen to read this! Texans over Colts (Sunday noon): The Houston Texans absolutely shut down Josh Allen and the Bills last Thursday. It was pure domination by the Texans’ defense that had Allen confused and running for his...
Judo (#3 between horses) and jockey Sven Balroop on their way to winning the Harvey Warner Manitoba Mile for trainer Steve Keplin, Jr. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) By G.S. Thompson There were some exceptionally well-managed horses at Assiniboia Downs in 2025,...
By Travers Cummings Bears over Steelers (Sunday noon): After having a pretty comfortable lead in the AFC North, all of a sudden the Steelers find themselves only one game up on the Baltimore Ravens for the division lead. Last week's victory didn't come without a loss...