Blog
Polo Park, “America’s finest racing plant”
by Bob Polo Park, the “father” in our family tree analogy, was a 6 furlong oval that opened on June 12, 1925. R. James Speers was given credit for building Polo Park, but he was not the driving force behind the idea to build the west-end track. Rather, he came to...
Balooga Bull Delivers Under Pressure to Stay Undefeated on Victoria Day, New Jock Simpson Impresses
by George Reigning Horse of the Year Balooga Bull delivered when it counted on Victoria Day at ASD to keep his perfect record intact, and in the process helped jockey Paul Nolan score a hat trick. Secondarily impressive on the card was 5-time Jamaican jockey champion...
Reeves Jr. and Nolan continue jockey battle at ASD on Victoria Day, Balooga Bull makes 3-year-old debut
by George Robert Reeves Jr. and Paul Nolan continue their battle atop the jockey standings today at Assiniboia Downs on Victoria Day Monday and 2011 Horse of the Year Balooga Bull makes his 3-year-old debut in the third race against five rivals. First Post is 1 p.m....
Bet the Gray Horses in the Mud
by George “Bet the longest shot on the board in a 5-horse field and bet the gray horses in the mud.” Things that grandfather used to say, that only seemed to come true after you’d brushed them off loudly as old wives tales in front of everyone at the track who would...
Bodemeister the pick in 137th Preakness, One longshot for logical live card
by Rob Baltimore, Maryland -- home of the Orioles, the Ravens and Pimlico Race Course. Pimlico is a tight track with a long stretch and a history as rich as any track in the country. Seabiscuit put away War Admiral on this very track, Secretariat ran the unofficial...
Insider Newsletter Preview: Slurpy and Snickers?
by George Have you read the May 17, 2012 issue of the Insider Newsletter yet? Here’s the short version: I’ll Have Another takes on 10 rivals in the 137th running of the Preakness Stakes this Saturday. If he wins he has a shot at being the first Triple Crown winner in...
Memories of Whittier Park, Grandfather of Assiniboia Downs
by Bob If horse racing were going to flourish in Winnipeg it was clear that River Park would not be the answer. A new track had to be built. The idea for Whittier Park was hatched in 1923 by R. James Speers, construction began the same year, and the new track was...
Mother’s Day payoffs big at ASD but She’s Copacetic wins filly feature as favorite
by George Call Me Misty probably left a few chalk players rubbing their eyes after the first race on Mother’s Day at ASD when she wired the field and paid $24.20 for a $2 bet, but the big payoffs sliced through the wind and under the sun all day in front of a large...
Mother’s Day at ASD features fast fillies, prize draws for Mom
by George Happy Mother’s Day! It’s supposed to be warm and sunny (just like Mom!) and it should be a gorgeous day at the track. We’re used to ASD opening on Mother’s Day, but it just happened to fall within the second weekend of live racing this year. Fine with us!...
ASD Pick-4 pays $6,800, 10-pound bug wins two foul claims
by George Trainer Aaron Sayler saddled the longshot of the night in an ASD Pick-4 that paid $6,800.60 and a 10-pound bug named Belle lodged two claims of foul against veteran jockeys and won. It was that kind of night at the Downs. The Pick-4 started off with a bang...