Blog
Honest Onyx and Exclusive Gold: The dead-heat twins that made history at Assiniboia Downs
by Bob Today's flashback in history recalls the 1994 rivalry between Honest Onyx and Exclusive Gold. Robert Ripley, creator of Ripley's Believe It or Not, would have loved this one. Imagine two thoroughbreds so evenly matched that after running their eyeballs out for...
The Magnificent Seven – Riders at ASD
by Bob The very title conjures up images of Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Steve McQueen and company! Cue the main theme and seven of the most successful riders in the history of Assiniboia Downs make their entrance on the stage that is our humble 6 1/2-furlong oval. This...
Hugh and Ruth Jackson, Merry’s Jay, and beautiful music in the 1976 Manitoba Derby
by Bob When it comes to Derby memories, it gets no better than Merry's Jay win on August 2, 1976. And it couldn't have happened to a nicer couple. Hugh and Ruth Jackson were another one of those special husband/wife teams that called Assiniboia Downs home. Our...
Woodlands’ Wizard – Ed Pawluk
by Bob When he's not falling out of trees, Woodlands' Ed Pawluk can be found hard at work on his 40-acre farm with his partner-for-life, Joyce. Some 40 odd years ago, Ed and Joyce sold the trailer park they owned and operated, moved to Woodlands, and built a house...
Paralyzed Canadian jockey Alyssa Selman faces long road to recovery but…
by George Paralyzed Canadian jockey Alyssa Selman was told by doctors this week that she has only a five percent chance of ever walking again, but she bubbled with talk of a dream house and horses on Thursday night in the Rehabilitation Ward at Winnipeg's Health...
Mike Smith. Good guy. Done too soon.
by Bob If this was a tale about the old west, Michael Somerset Smith would have been one the guys wearing a white Stetson. You know -- the one the good guys wore in westerns. Simply put, Mike loved horses, and as a youth he spent as much time as he could at Max...
Glen Royce Ball, the man they call “GB”
by Bob Originally from Edmonton, GB came to Winnipeg with his family when he was a youngster. Glen always loved to be around horses and got his start with show horses. Horses were his passion, but he made his living as a "car guy." GB operated a White Rose service...
The day that shaped the face of Assiniboia Downs, September 25, 1957
by Bob If it is possible to single out a date that marked the "birth" of Assiniboia Downs, Wednesday September 25, 1957 would be that day. On that historic Wednesday Jack Hardy, President of James Enterprises Ltd. announced the appointment of Alexander Gardner...
Bobby Q, The Horse that Jack Built
by Bob This week's image in our historical rear view mirror belongs to Bobby Q and veteran horseman Jack Robertson from Amaranth, Manitoba. Bobby Q first popped up on the radar screen with his performance in the 10th running of the Minnesota Derby in 1983. Sent...
Mellow moments and memories of Albert and Eileen Blake
by Bob This past Sunday I woke up early, very early, and poured myself a coffee. I retreated to our deck to enjoy the morning sunrise. The only other living creatures awake at that time were a few chirping song birds. The air was still and all was calm as I fell into...