Blog


Jerry Gourneau on a Roll, Hidden Grace Baby Tops Yearling Sale at $36,000, Take Charge Tom Wins Canadian Derby
Jockey Renaldo Cumberbatch is congratulated after winning the Already Dia Stakes aboard Malibu S S on Tuesday at ASD for trainer Jerry Gourneau and owner Henry S. Witt, Jr. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) Take Charge Tom returned with a vengeance last Saturday in...

Hazel Bochinski – More than the sum of her parts!
Hazel Bochinski - November 24 1942 - October 21, 2021 (Bochinski Family) By Track Historian Bob Gates Whether she was teaching young minds at Shaughnessy Park or Lord Nelson Schools, or training race horses at Assiniboia Downs, Hazel was a natural. She was able to...

TravyFootball – Season Preview
TravyFootball by Travers Cummings Before I dive into my season preview, I want to give a quick shoutout to the late Brian Gory—aka Ivan Bigg, aka Mr. Tomato, and a few other aliases he was known by. Brian was the one who encouraged me to start writing this weekly...

The Gold Rush Is On: CTHS Manitoba Yearling Sale This Sunday
2022 Manitoba CTHS Yearling Sale graduate No Show No Call was the leading money earner and Manitoba-bred Horse of the Year at Assiniboia Downs in 2024. His half-brother is Hip #7 in this year’s sale. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) By G.S. Thompson The annual CTHS...

1975 – It was a Very Good Year Part II – July 11 to September 2
L'Enjoleur on the cover of the 1976 Stakes Book highlighting stats from 1975. By Track Historian Bob Gates Let’s see, where were we? Oh yeah, 1975, the year of leisure suits, PEZ candy and heaven forbid, Disco. Events of the time included: Movies: One Flew Over the...

What a Week for Favourites! Ride of the Week Goes to Javaniel Patterson.
Designated Hitter (inside) and Javaniel Patterson hold off Totalizer and Rachaad Knights in the third race on Wednesday. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) By G.S. Thompson The public was especially sharp this week at ASD, as the first or second choices on the tote...

1975 – It Was a Good Year. Part I – May 16 to July 9
Jim Wright with General Manager Bill Clubb (Gerry Hart) By Track Historian Bob Gates If you remember Mood Rings, Rubik’s Cubes or Pet Rocks then you were a graduate of 1975. News events of the day included: Jimmy Hoffa disappears from a restaurant parking lot in...

Post Parade Decision Delivers First Contest Win for James Werry
August ASD Handicapping Challenge winner James Werry. By G.S. Thompson A decision made on post parade proved to be the winning move for veteran handicapper James Werry on Tuesday night, who won the ASD Handicapping Challenge by $8.70 with a bankroll of $60.10. Werry...

Attack Wins 77th Manitoba Derby, Monster Pick 4 Payoff Tuesday, Girls Night Out Rocks Wednesday!
2025 Manitoba Derby winner Attack (checkered blinkers) and jockey N'Rico Prescod early in the running of the 77th Derby. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) By G.S. Thompson The 77th running of the $125,000 Manitoba Derby resulted in record-breaking wagering, trainer...

A Decade of Halstead Racing Memories
By Track Historian Bob Gates The Manitoba Derby is now in our rearview mirror, and we still have another half of the 2025 racing season to enjoy. Where does the time go? Speaking of time, track photographer Jason Halstead is in his 10th year with Assiniboia Downs. It...