Blog
Trainer Lise Pruitt Looking Forward to 2025 Live Season at ASD
Trainer Lise Pruitt with 2024 Rangatira Stakes winner Explosive. (George Williams) by G. S. Thompson "I can't wait to start," said trainer Lise Pruitt. "Can't wait." Pruitt is looking forward to the start of the 2025 live racing season at Assiniboia Downs on Tuesday,...
Judy Hunter: Saskatchewan Racing Royalty at ASD
Trainer Judy Hunter has won 459 races at a 21-percent clip over the course of her 47-year career. (George Williams) by G. S. Thompson When Judy Hunter walks through the backstretch at Assiniboia Downs, you can feel the weight of racing history moving alongside her. At...
Trainer Jared Brown Has Another Strong Stable for 2025
Top ASD trainer Jared Brown enjoying a walk in the backstretch Thursday morning. by G. S. Thompson Trainer Jared Brown is back in action at Assiniboia Downs with a 26-horse stable, and it appears he could be heading for another great year. Brown, who first arrived at...
“Longshot Les” Buzzell Wins Player’s Choice Tourney
by G. S. Thompson "Longshot Les" Buzzell captured his second Player's Choice Handicapping Tournament title at Assiniboia Downs last Saturday, but if you think he did it by taking wild stabs in the dark, think again. The 61-year-old Montreal native, who owns a...
A Snapshot in Time Irwin Driedger
By Track Historian Bob Gates On May 21, 2023, Canadian Hall of Fame jockey Irwin Driedger passed away following a long battle with cancer. Over the next four weeks, we will look back at some of Irwin’s 969 wins and remember the man who spent eight full seasons riding...
Down the Homestretch: Remembering Brian “Ivan Bigg” Gory
Brian "Ivan Bigg" Gory By G. S. Thompson Brian Gory, known to many in the racing world as "Ivan Bigg," passed away on March 20, 2025, at 4:55 a.m. – symbolically on the first day of spring – after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 81, just eight days shy...
Trainer Mike Taphorn Making His Mark at Assiniboia Downs
Trainer Mike Taphorn with Manitoba-bred star No Show No Call. (George Williams) By G. S. Thompson Assistant Director of Racing Derek Corbel reports there are now 200 horses on the grounds as opening day Tuesday, May 13 fast approaches, with four more trainers shipping...
A Snapshot in Time by Bob Gates
This is the last installment of our Ken Hendricks Snapshot in Time feature. In 2004, Hank piloted the favoured Deputy Country to victory in the 45th running of the R. J. Speers Stakes. It marked the last time Hank won the Speers—a race he captured a record-setting six...
Nault Enters 2025 Season with “Best Stable Ever”
Trainer Mike Nault exercising his new claim Load Abroad. (George Williams) By G. S. Thompson Nault Enters 2025 Season with "Best Stable Ever" Leading riders Prayven Badrie and Antonio Whitehall back in action Two-time leading ASD rider and reigning champ Prayven...
Snapshot in Time by Bob Gates
This is installment number three of our salute to the late Ken Hendricks. Hank won two Manitoba Derbies, and while most will remember his victory on Merry’s Jay in 1976, who recalls his win aboard Langara Island on August 7, 1995—30 years ago? Ken took charge of the...