Blog
Handicapping is more than just picking winners
by Rob The process of wagering on a horse race in the modern era of gambling is much more complicated than "which horse do I like?" In outdated systems all you had to do was pick a horse. Now it takes a firm understanding of not only picking winners, but also on...
Women who rocked the Powder Puff Derby
by Bob I'm guessing the name "Powder Puff" was created by a male of our species. Certainly there aren't many women these days that would come up with such a sexist sounding name for a horse race featuring women-only riders or "jockettes" as they were often called, a...
The Winner’s Circle at Assiniboia Downs, a history of hallowed ground
by Bob Arguably the most hallowed piece of real estate at any race track is the Winner's Circle, also sometimes referred to as the winner's enclosure and the charmed circle. Oddly enough, ours is not, and never has been, a circle! Mind you, not all race tracks even...
Nose the Pose gives Meyaard second straight stakes win, Chow boots home biggest longshot of meet
by George Nose the Pose shook off early pace pressure after a quarter mile and opened up to win the $25,000 Hazel Wright Sire Stakes by 2 3/4-lengths on a Saturday night at the Downs that also produced the longest priced winner of the meet at $87.70. Nose the Pose...
Jet Again continues roll towards Manitoba Derby
by George Jet Again continued his well-managed progression towards the $75,000 Manitoba Derby Friday night with an easy victory in the Frank Aranason Sire Stakes, Jennifer Reid scored a hat trick, and young couples came out in droves as the predicted rain got lost...
Naigo: A rare and special horse, he was
by Bob Naigo had the kind of class that most other horses can only dream about. After all, he was a son of the great Northern Dancer, and his owner, Bud Willmot's Kinghaven Farms, expected a lot from him. Most locals who remember this multiple stakes-placed gelding...
Royal Ascot Week: A Guide to Viewing and Betting
Royal Ascot begins today! by Rob In horse racing the day-to-day grind of track after track and race after race can become monotonous, but racing truly shines at the major race meets and race days offered around the world. The Saratoga and Del Mar meets, Kentucky Derby...
Live racing cancelled for Sunday, June 15
Sunday, June 15, 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Live racing has been cancelled for today, Sunday, June 15, due to unsafe track conditions. Father's Day Brunch in the Terrace Dining Room and the Father's Day Rib Special will proceed as planned. Simulcast racing is...
The Gang of Seven
by Bob If you scan the list of the Downs' all-time leading trainers you'll find that seven of the top 20 never won a single-season training title. How is it that the best of the best were unable to win a training title? The reasons for this are many and varied, but in...
Magic D’ Oro gets best of “Bull” in Free Press, La Verendrye, Triple Crown bid on tap
by George Magic D' Oro let champion Balooga Bull have things all his own way in the $30,000 Free Press Stakes at Assiniboia Downs on Friday night, and still beat him. In fast time. Balooga Bull went right to the lead and took the inside as expected in the first stakes...