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How to Read the Past Performances – Part 2
Night School Handicapping Video courtesy of Jeremy Plonk and his Handicapping Team at HorsePlayerNow.com Part 2 of an extensive lesson on how to read the Past Performances by Joe Kristufek In Part 2 of How to Read the Past Performances, Joe Kristufec goes over the...
How to Read the Past Performances – Part 1
Night School Handicapping Video courtesy of Jeremy Plonk and his Handicapping Team at HorsePlayerNow.com An extensive lesson on how to read the Past Performances by Joe Kristufek If you want to be successful at betting on horses, you have to know how to read the Past...
A little Magic and a lot of Bull
by Bob Gates with George Williams photos The Downs' historic 60th Season of thoroughbred racing winds up this Sunday, September 10 and what a year! I've been doing these blog stories for the past six seasons of live racing and after 100 plus stories from our...
My Game, the big grey gelding from North Dakota
by Bob Gates This week we look back at the unlikely beginnings of one of the most consistent and capable platers to ever run at Assiniboia Downs - brothers, Elery and Marlow Scherbenske's grey gelding, My Game. What attributes make a horse, great? Try as I might I...
Strawberry Shortcake, a Leather Coat and the Flying Filly
by Bob Gates There is nothing sweeter than the memories evoked by one of God's majestic creations - the thoroughbred racehorse. Almost 50 years have passed since the talented bay filly, Ruling Lark ruled the roost at Assiniboia Downs. I have wanted to do the story of...
Horses made jockey Jimmy Anderson whole
by Bob Gates When Sir Winston Churchill said that "there's something about the outside of a horse that's good for the inside of a man" it was like he knew Jimmy Anderson. James E. Anderson was the son of track veterinarian Dr. Norm and Mrs. Peggy Anderson. Jim and...
Johnny, Eddie and Willie – Legends of the Turf at Assiniboia Downs
by Bob Gates Over the years the Downs has played host to all sorts of dignitaries, from professional athletes to royalty, but some of the most popular guests have been heroes from the Sport of Kings. There have been many, but none more special than racing legends...
The Manitoba Derby, The Forgotten Years – 1930 to 1940
by Bob Gates It's been 57 years since Jack Hardy resurrected our Manitoba Derby in 1960 and this year's Derby is the 69th running of what was once touted as the "Run for the Tartan." I've never been a math genius, but those figures just don't add up. The problem...
Stuart Polet’s Fud was no Dud!
by Bob Gates In 2015 the Wheat City Stakes was renamed the Manitoba Mile and Friday, July 28 marks the 40th Anniversary of Stuart Polet's "Fud the Stud's" win in the Wheat City in 1977. What? You've never heard of Fud the Stud? Well, I'm just having a little fun, Fud...
Racehorses, Forever Homes & the Final Furlong
by Bob Gates I'm back following a week's hiatus due to one of the ugliest bouts of, well, why don't we just call it a bad case of colic and leave it at that. I'm still on the mend and am writing this from what was a week ago, my death-bed. This week I have a story...