Assiniboia Downs

Memories of Milestones & Anniversaries

Memories of Milestones & Anniversaries

Original Manitoba Derby Trophy 1884 - 1934 (Speers Family) By Track Historian Bob Gates “Life isn’t a matter of milestones, but of moments.”- Rose Kennedy The 2026 season is now underway and isn’t it grand to have the ponies back in town. For more than 100 years,...

Top Trainers Hit the Entry Box for Opening Evening Tuesday, May 12!

Top Trainers Hit the Entry Box for Opening Evening Tuesday, May 12!

7-time leading ASD owner Henry S. Witt, Jr. (left) and 5-time leading trainer Jerry Gourneau will have a large and powerful stable at the Downs once again for 2026. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) By G.S. Thompson Trainers began filling the entry box for the first...

Galloping Good Times Return to Assiniboia Downs

Galloping Good Times Return to Assiniboia Downs

Racing returns to the Downs May 12, 2026 (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) By Track Historian Bob Gates “Good times never seemed so good.”– Sweet Caroline, Neil Diamond So good, so good… Well, at long last, live thoroughbred racing returns to the Downs. There was a...

Trevor Phelps Does It Again in Player’s Choice Tourney

Trevor Phelps Does It Again in Player’s Choice Tourney

By G.S. Thompson Trevor Phelps won the April Player's Choice Handicapping Tournament last Saturday, and for the second month in a row, it wasn't really close. Phelps built his $60.00 bankroll to $114.20 to claim the $1,000 first prize and trophy, finishing a...

A Lifetime of Good Horses

A Lifetime of Good Horses

Trainer Carl Anderson with stakes-placed Princeoftheprairie. (George Williams) By G.S. Thompson I had the pleasure of sitting down with master horse person Carl Anderson this week, just to reminisce about some of the good horses he has trained over the years. Anderson...

Homer’s Back — And He’s Brought an Army

Homer’s Back — And He’s Brought an Army

Trainer Jason Homer with Falsely Accused, one of his favourites. (George Williams) by G.S. Thompson It was a chilly Thursday morning in the ASD backstretch when we caught up with trainer Jason Homer, who is here for the second year in a row from Washington State with...

Nault Rolling Toward Another Big Season at the Downs

Nault Rolling Toward Another Big Season at the Downs

Mike Nault with Thick, a purchase from the Ontario Yearling Sale last year. (George Williams) by G.S. Thompson  Trainer Mike Nault has been on a roll for the past three years, and it looks like he could be headed for another banner season in 2026. Nault has 20 horses...

Bill Drew Outdistances Field in March Player’s Choice Tourney

Bill Drew Outdistances Field in March Player’s Choice Tourney

Bill Drew with three-time stakes winner McKague at his farm in Oakbank. By G.S. Thompson Horse owner and retired agricultural consultant Bill Drew outdistanced the field to win the March Player's Choice Handicapping Tournament last Saturday with a whopping total of...

Jared Brown Brings Powerful Stable to Downs for 2026

Jared Brown Brings Powerful Stable to Downs for 2026

Groom/Assistant trainer Susan Crane with Welcometohollywood in trainer Jared Brown’s barn. (George Williams) By G.S. Thompson Trainer Jared Brown had his best season ever at Assiniboia Downs with regards to purse earnings in 2025, and he's assembled another powerful...

Pruitt Ready to Roll, Caribbean Cavalry Expected Back

Pruitt Ready to Roll, Caribbean Cavalry Expected Back

Trainer Lise Pruitt with Noble Escape. (George Williams) By G.S. Thompson The training track is open at ASD,  and more trainers are shipping in daily.  Over 100 horses are on the grounds now with trainers Wendy Anderson, Jared Brown, Terry Cole, Ray Gardipy, Tom...