Blog
Irwin Driedger, the Jock with the Golden Locks
by Bob Clifford "Shorty" Gray hired 11-year-old Irwin Driedger as an exercise rider. The young blonde schoolboy from Russell, Manitoba tipped the scales at 78 pounds and got his first win on a race track at the Neepawa Fair Grounds on horse named Admiral Zenith. Who...
Pool to Market and Bobby Stewart, magic in the 1967 Gold Cup
by Bob On August 5, 1967 the stars above Assiniboia Downs aligned perfectly for rider Robert Roy "Bobby" Stewart and his chestnut charge Pool to Market, and the pair put on a fabulous show for the 5,000-plus patrons that filed into the track that evening. The closest...
2014 Manitoba Derby Entries
Manitoba Derby, 66th Running Distance: 1 1/8 Miles. Age: 3-Year-Olds. Purse: $75,000 Guaranteed Weights: Fillies, 121 lbs. Colts & Geldings, 124 lbs. Fees: $100 to nominate - $700 to enter - $700 to start Click horse names for more information. Post Horse &...
Manitoba Derby competitors have both strengths and weaknesses
by Rob The seven horses in Monday's Manitoba Derby make up a competitive field that should provide both a fast pace and a closing kick, which makes for a wonderful show! All of the competitors have strengths that make them interesting, but also have weaknesses that...
Northern Contract – 2014 Manitoba Derby Contenders
by George Northern Contract is just getting started in his career but he has already won three of six starts including the local Golden Boy Stakes. Trainer Don Schnell thought highly enough of the son of Northern Afleet to run him in the Turf Paradise Derby in his...
Street Prancer – 2014 Manitoba Derby Contenders
by George Street Prancer has been looking for a perfect spot to run in. The Manitoba Derby fits the bill. And his Eclipse Award winning trainer Steve Asmussen certainly knows where to run his horses. Asmussen currently ranks second in North America with 189 wins and...
Storm Chance – 2014 Manitoba Derby Contenders
by George Stormello had both speed and courage, with his best performance being a game nose loss to Scat Daddy in the 2007 Fountain of Youth-G1 going the distance of the Manitoba Derby, 1 1/8-miles, as he was just beginning his 3-year-old career. Stormello passed on...
Master Lightning – 2014 Manitoba Derby Contenders
by George If winning the Manitoba Derby was based solely on the company you kept, Master Lightning would be tough to beat. The royally-bred stakes-placed son of Bluegrass Stakes-G1 winner Pulpit had been running competitively against the best 3-year-olds in North...
On Andy’s Advice – 2014 Manitoba Derby Contenders
by George On Andy's Advice is one of two horses in this year's Manitoba Derby conditioned by veteran horseman Wally T.M. Pugh. Like his stablemate Wilko Rum, On Andy's Advice is by 2004 Breeders' Cup Juvenile-G1 winner Wilko, and if you want a good example of pure...
Jet Again – 2014 Manitoba Derby Contenders
by George Jet Again will be the favourite among those with Manitoba connections in this year's Derby and for good reason. The homebred gelding by top local sire Going Commando moved up multiple class levels while also stretching out for the first time this year in his...