Blog
Experienced grooms and exercise riders needed for 2014 at Assiniboia Downs
The Manitoba HBPA is looking for experienced grooms and morning exercise riders for the 2014 Assiniboia Downs racing season. Assiniboia Downs is located at 3975 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Morning Jockeys/ Exercise Riders: Required to condition...
Manitoba pride soars as Goldencents triumphs in Breeders’ Cup World Championships
Chalk up a historic "golden" moment for Manitoba on the world stage of horse racing. Goldencents, the 3-year-old colt born to Assiniboia Downs mare Golden Works, crushed 10 rivals in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile-G1 last Friday in the Breeders' Cup...
The Rob’s, Questions Answered, Questions Posed
by Rob The 2013 race meet was highlighted by a group of horses that dominated their respective divisions. It was an absolute honour to watch these horses dominate each group. The memories roll back of Balooga Bull’s comeback, of Zdeno’s Futurity and of Portales’ big...
Bankroll Bob hoping to score on final live racing weekend of the year!
by Rob Two race cards left and it should be a good weekend to talk about patience and logic. I know this sounds like it should be a simple conversation, but I am guilty for not being patient and thinking outside the box too much at times. Had a bad bankroll bob week...
A Total Eclipse of the (Gerry) Hart? No.
by Bob Track photographer Gerry Hart retiring? No, but while this may not be Gerry’s final season at the Downs, it will probably be the last year that he operates on his own. Maybe we should think of his work cut-back as more of a “partial eclipse.” Gerry has...
Balooga Bull wins second consecutive Assiniboia Downs Gold Cup, silences critics
by George Paul Brandt’s Balooga Bull silenced all naysayers with his second consecutive victory in the $50,000 Assiniboia Downs Gold Cup on Saturday night, becoming only the sixth horse in 56 years to win the prestigious race in back-to-back years. Trained by...
Divine Wisdom wins J. W. Sifton, Balooga Bull takes on Manitoba Derby winner in $50,000 Gold Cup Saturday
by George Off 2 Win Stable’s Divine Wisdom probably had to work a little harder than he would have liked to win the $50,000 J.W. Sifton Stakes on Friday night, but he was up to the task when it counted. Ridden by leading rider Paul Nolan, the Manitoba-bred...
Uene, Solid Gold in 88
by Bob Uene was one of those special horses that left his hoofprints on the heart of Assiniboia Downs even though he only raced at our local oval for two short seasons. How does something like that happen? First of all, he came to the Downs with plenty of...
Janine Smith first female jockey to win $50,000 Winnipeg Futurity in 84 years
by George Jockey Janine Smith was in the spotlight again on Saturday night at Assiniboia Downs when she became the first female jockey in history to win the $50,000 Winnipeg Futurity. Quite an accomplishment for the 24-year-old rider from Denman B.C....
Nolan moves to 6-win lead in jockey standings, Smith makes Pick-4 pay big
by George Paul Nolan scored a hat trick with wins in the first, second and sixth races on Friday night at the Downs, Adrian Ramos won a pair and Janine Smith booted home Prairie Eclipse in the seventh to cement an excellent Pick-4 payoff. Nolan had to survive a...