Blog


Bynoe Puts on a Riding Clinic, Gourneau, Taphorn Win Big in Championship Races
Burrow Down and jockey Damario Bynoe win the $50,000 Manitoba Matron on Tuesday at ASD for trainer Mike Taphorn and owner Gerald Babchishin. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) by G.S. Thompson Jockey Damario Bynoe put on a riding clinic at the Downs this week with...

Roger Jones Wins ASD Handicapping Challenge for Third Time
Roger Jones with his ASD Handicapping Challenge trophy at the Fan Education booth. Fellow handicapper and fan educator Brad Ostrove on the right. Stop by and ask them a question when you’re at the track. Smart guys! (George Williams Photo) By G.S. Thompson Roger Jones...

Memories of “Old” Polo Park
Polo Park circa 1950 (ASD archives) By Track Historian Bob Gates Good morning! It’s early on a Saturday and I find myself in my usual spot, sitting at our dining room table. As I prepare to write this week’s blog story, I stare out the patio doors, alone in my...

TravyFootball Week 3
By Travers Cummings Vikings over Bengals (Sunday noon): I can’t imagine anyone had Carson Wentz vs. Jake Browning on their bingo card when they saw the Week 3 matchup between the Vikings and Bengals. How did we even end up with this mess? I’m going to blame Bengals...

Manitoba-Breds Star in Stakes Action, Chief Murray Clearsky Honoured, Williams Wins Osiris
Mechanic Susie and Antonio Whitehall win the $40,000 Distaff Stakes on Wednesday at ASD. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) By G.S. Thompson Fans were treated to some sizzling stakes action courtesy of the best horses on the grounds this week at ASD, with one of the...

Records are Made to be Broken!
By Track Historian Bob Gates … at least that’s what they say, and who exactly are “they?” Even AI – Overview wasn’t much help. “There isn’t a single person credited with originally saying "records are made to be broken" it’s a common sentiment that various athletes...

TravyFootball Week 2
Bengals over Jags (Sunday noon): The Bengals very well could be 0–1 right now instead of 1–0, but thanks to the Browns’ kicker missing a field goal and an extra point, Cincinnati snuck out a 17–16 win. I really don’t understand why the Bengals get off to these slow...

Jason Homer, Shavon Townsend Score Hat Tricks, Keplin Increases Lead in Trainer Standings
The Assiniboia Racing Club packed the winner’s circle after winning the first race on Wednesday with Bandera Azteca, conditioned by Devon Gittens. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) By G.S. Thompson Trainer Jason Homer and jockey Shavon Townsend were the hotties of...

Richard William Mathes – But please call him “Bud”
R.W. Mathes (Assiniboia Downs) By Track Historian Bob Gates “Bud” Mathes was an Alberta horseman with ties to the early days of racing in Winnipeg. As tends to be the case with our history blog, the name of our honouree may not be familiar to all of us. After all,...

TravyFootball Week 1
By Travers Cummings Steelers over Jets (Sunday noon): Old, washed-up Aaron Rodgers is on his retirement tour this season (he’s hinted this will be his last), and what better way to start it off than against the team that dumped him this past summer? Whatever ambitions...