Blog
Friday Pick-5 Looks Playable – And Winnable
by Rob Bob’s weekly piece featured the $25,000 Frank Arnason Sire Stakes and the history of that race. I will leave the history to him and concentrate instead on this year’s rendition of the race for 3-year-old Manitoba-breds, which goes as the seventh race on...
Memories of A. E. “Bert” Blake in this week’s Insider Newsletter
by George First, my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the late A. E. “Bert” Blake – a friend, a true gentleman and a tremendous horseman who unselfishly taught so many people so much. I worked for Bert in the ‘80s and spent good bit of time with him...
The Passing of a Legend — Albert Edward “Bert” Blake — June 29, 1919 – June 19, 2012
by Bob I guess deep down I knew that one day it would happen, but honestly, the news hit me harder than I expected – Albert Edward “Bert” Blake passed away today, 10 days short of his 93rd birthday. Mr. Blake, and I apologize, I can’t bring myself to call him anything...
Frank Arnason Sire Stakes — Listen
by Bob This Saturday’s feature race is the 25th running of the Frank Arnason Sire Stakes. The race is for Manitoba bred 3-year-olds over a distance of 6 furlongs for a purse of $25,000. The winner of the inaugural running of the Frank Arnason in 1988 was Hazel...
Schillerthekiller makes Big Move in Mud to win 2012 Free Press Stakes
by George Schillerthekiller went from last to first with a big move on the turn and drew out to win the $30,000 Free Press Stakes on Sunday in front of the largest Father’s Day crowd seen at Assiniboia Downs in decades. The fans began streaming into the Downs around...
Lone Bettor wins $4,495 Pick-4 on Muddy Saturday Afternoon at Downs
by George The track was muddy but the odds were great on a sunny Saturday afternoon at the Downs, and someone took home $4,495 as the lone winning ticket holder on the Pick-4. The day started off with a bang when $25 winner Sharp A held on to win by a neck under...
The Argument Started in the Gate, Don’t Forget Early Post Time Saturday: 1 p.m.
by George The Pick-4 came close to paying $4,000 on Friday night at ASD but Maintenance Man ($24.10) just couldn’t get by favored female Hurrionby ($2.65) no matter what her name said. Still, Maintenance Man received an excellent trip from jockey Paul Nolan, who...
Tricky Father’s Day Weekend Provides Numerous Betting Opportunities
by Rob I was right! I was right! You heard it here first, that I’ll Have Another would not win the Triple Crown. Obviously that was not the way I wanted to be proven right. It’s bad for the sport and just sour in general. Look for many of the top 3-year-olds to come...
2/3 Disqualified at Downs. Nevermind, have an ice cream.
by George It was DQ night at the Downs on Wednesday and we don’t mean Dairy Queen. Two of the seven races resulted in disqualifications and there was also a third claim of foul in the last race that didn’t hold up. In the third race Let’s Rocket ridden by Paul Nolan...
Remembering “Woody” in the Free Press
by Bob This Sunday’s running of the Free Press Stakes will be the 52nd edition of the race. The Winnipeg Free Press trophy has a long and storied association with the Downs, beginning with Fremarcton winning the inaugural running of the race in 1960. From 1960 to 1981...