Henry S. Witt, Jr. (right) with trainer Jerry Gourneau and jockey Antonio Whitehall after winning the Manitoba Derby with longshot Mano Dura in 2023. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) By G.S. Thompson Henry S. Witt, Jr. has won the leading owner title at Assiniboia...
Rob Solmundson won last Saturday's Player's Choice Handicapping Tournament, and for the second time in as many months, the winning total was less than $100. By G.S. Thompson Longshots continue to be hard to come by, even for our core group of talented handicappers,...
Patriots over Seahawks (Sunday at 5:30 p.m.): Not many people are giving the Patriots a chance in this game for a multitude of reasons. “They had the easiest schedule,” “they only played one good team all year,” “they should have lost to the Broncos,” etc. I don’t...
2025 ASD leading trainer Steve Keplin, Jr. (right) in the winner’s circle after his victory in the Chantilly Stakes with Gina’s Serenade for owner Arnason Farms. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia photo) by G. S. Thompson 2025 Assiniboia Downs leading trainer Steve Keplin,...
By Travers Cummings Patriots defeat Broncos (Sunday afternoon): I said last week the Broncos would struggle on offense without starting QB Bo Nix, and sure enough, that’s exactly what happened. After an impressive first drive by Jarrett Stidham that actually led to...
Groom School graduate and former Groom of the Year Skyla Blanchard loves her job. (George Williams) Looking for a hands-on way to get involved in the horse racing industry? The HBPA of Manitoba Inc. is offering a 4-week paid Racehorse Groom Training Program, a chance...
Fast as Flight wins the Modesty Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Oaks Day for former ASD leading trainer Martin Drexler. by G. S. Thompson Former Assiniboia Downs leading trainer Martin Drexler has come a long way from his days carrying water buckets and...
By Travers Cummings Patriots over Broncos (Sunday afternoon): Well, this COULD have been a decent game. It still might be, but things took a really weird turn for Denver after the game ended. At the post-game press conference, Coach Sean Payton announced that...
Trainer Devon Gittens with his first “big horse” as a trainer, stakes-winner Purrsistent, owned and bred by Dr. Betty Hughes. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) By G.S. Thompson Following up with trainer Devon Gittens after his successful 2025 seasons at...
By Travers Cummings Broncos over Bills (Saturday afternoon): Josh Allen is the best player in the NFL, period. As good as he’s been, I don’t know how many people actually picked them to beat the Jags last week. Jacksonville had all the momentum heading into the game,...