Blog
A Special Anniversary: Jack Doesn’t Live Here Any More
Jack Hardy Founder & President, Assiniboia Downs, 1958-1974 By Bob Gates Fifty years ago James C. Hardy, founder of Assiniboia Downs, presided over his final year of racing at our Portage Avenue racetrack. The 56-day season began on May 12 and ended on August 11,...
Will 2024 Be Gary Danelson’s Swan Song?
Gary Danelson Leading Trainer Plaque By Bob Gates This August 28th our dear friend from Scobey, Montana will be celebrating 87 trips around the sun and August 29th will mark the 65th anniversary of his first win at Assiniboia Downs. The other day I gave Gary a quick...
Unsolved Mysteries: Assiniboia Downs Edition
Island Fling in 1979 with the original Gold Cup trophy By Bob Gates Nothing draws more attention than a good mystery. The mere mention of Loch Ness, Stonehenge, Bigfoot, Amelia Earhart or the Bermuda Triangle will captivate any audience. Our focus on the local horse...
Victory Gift: Three Generations of Success
Victory Gift, September 4, 1948 By Bob Gates Victory Gift: Three Generations of Success Over the years Assiniboia Downs has been blessed with some of the finest fillies and mares in horseracing. We thought we had seen the best of the best with likes of: Miss Missile...
Manitoba Derby Photo Album
By Bob Gates The Manitoba Derby goes Monday August 5th and for some of us horse racing die-hards it's like a second Christmas. How about another one of our photo blogs? This time around we searched the archives for some of those not-so-standard winner circle shots of...
Andrew J. Robinson: Dean of the Trainers in Western Canada
Andy Robinson - Wpg Tribune June 22, 1923 By Bob Gates “One of the finest trainers in the racing game.” R. J. Speers – Edmonton Bulletin, January 29, 1932 “The grand old man of Western Canada’s old guard of training.” Winnipeg Free Press, May 21, 1936 “Andy Robinson...
Remembering the Western Thoroughbred
By Bob Gates And now for something completely different! The history blog is proud to dedicate this week’s trip back in time to the publication known as the Western Thoroughbred (WT). Try as we might, we were unable to confirm the exact years that this publication...
Rangatira: Power, Class & Heart
By Track Historian Bob Gates Every once in a while a horse comes along with a unique combination of qualities that separates him from the rest. Lloyd Gray & sons’ Rangatira was a racehorse that ticked all the boxes. He was a gelded son of 1955 Horse of the Year...
“The Inaugural” – A 45-Year History
by Track Historian Bob Gates It’s Pop Quiz time. Who remembers the Inaugural Handicap, the horses, riders and trainers? Well buckle-up friends, you’re about to partake in a whirlwind tour as we look back at the history of the race most knew simply as “The...
Assiniboia Downs All-Time Leaders: Trainers Edition
by Track Historian Bob Gates Most local racing buffs already know that veteran horseman Gary Danelson is the current Downs All-Time Leading Trainer (ATLT). Coming into the 2024 season Gary had notched 1,250 wins here. It’s a challenge to tell the history behind the...