Blog
Secret Weapons and Other 50-year-old Memories of Nice Dancer
by Bob Gates Well another Manitoba Derby is on the books and congratulations go out to the winner Red Knobs and his connections, owner Rob Nokes, trainer Robertino Diodoro and jockey Jorge Carreno. It's fun to look back at the list of previous winners of our Derby....
The History of the Manitoba Derby in Photos
by Bob Gates A few weeks ago we tried something different. The traditional blog story was replaced by an array of photos complete with captions and it turns out, you liked it! With our Manitoba Derby going to post Monday, August 1 let's give the photo story idea...
Beginnings, Endings and Thank You
by Bob Gates Who's kidding who, you're being short-changed this time around. Our weekly history blog isn't about a historical horse racing figure or event. That's right, no person, horse or anything else was researched for today's tale. However, in an effort to pacify...
Light Dust: Champion of the Prairie Racing Circuit and Proudly a Manitoba-Bred
by Bob Gates Last winter, during a covid-induced research binge, the name Light Dust jumped off the pages of the defunct Winnipeg Tribune. The headline read, "That's all for Light Dust." This old-time runner's name was a familiar one. He was a rare breed, a champion...
The Kid from Bellavista Crescent who Dared to Dream
by Bob Gates In a 1989 interview Darren Dunn told Paul Turney of the Daily Racing Form (DRF) that he was 11 years old when he heard his first race. "It was an exciting confrontation between Northern Diamond and Picatune and when I heard the announcer I fantasized,...
Miko Siah Seeks to be Remembered
by Bob Gates Who was Miko Siah? Equibase stats have the multiple stakes-placed stallion with $10,892 in career earnings from 74 starts. He compiled a record of 8 wins, 10 seconds and 13 thirds from 1948 to 1956. Respectable considering his level of competition, but...
Remembering Dick Armstrong and His Family’s Home Away From Home
by Bob Gates Let's celebrate a Diamond Jubilee, shall we? This year marks the 60th anniversary of jockey George Richard "Dickie" Armstrong's first leading-rider title (1962) at Assiniboia Downs. The Maple Creek, Saskatchewan native would go on to top the Downs...
Assiniboia Downs: Eight Decades and Counting
by Bob Gates "And Now for Something Completely Different" was a catchphrase from the British television comedy series Monty Python's Flying Circus, and it just happens to be perfect for this week's blog. This isn't your typical history story, at least it's not what...
Downs Honors Contributions of Manitoba Duo with Hall of Fame Nominations
by Bob Gates R. James Speers and "Bobby" Summers are getting awful lonely over at 145 Pacific Avenue, home of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame (MSHOF). This past March, Assiniboia Downs took steps to address this situation by filing Hall of Fame nomination papers for...
M&M’s: Sweet Treats for the Soul
by Bob Gates Well, now that we have a couple of days of racing under our belt, let's celebrate with some M&M's. Nope, not the multi-coloured, button-shaped chocolates which are the flagship product of Mars, Incorporated. We're talking about milestones and memories...