Blog
Manitoba Jockey Club Director nears half-century mark in horse business
by Bob Gates Dr. Ross Allen McKague hasn't quite reached the half century mark in horse racing, but 50 years ago he embarked on the most important partnership of his life. Yes, even more important than horses. Young Ross met Brenda Lee Wood at university in Saskatoon....
Live Racing a Go for Second Year in a Row at ASD with No Fans in the Stands
by Bob Gates The 2021 season gets underway on Monday, May 24. This will be the second year of the pandemic "No Fans in the Stands" season of racing. Sure, it's not what everyone wants, but it beats the blazes out of seeing the local racing scene fade into obscurity. I...
A Racetracker’s Night Before Christmas
by Bob Gates Once again, it's that time of year. Yuletide carols echo through the frosty air, while multi-coloured lights twinkle everywhere. Yes folks, its Christmas! For the past 10 years I have been honoured to act as your ambassador to racing's past. To show my...
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Smoky Cinder, Pawluks’ Pride – A Tribute
by Bob Gates The last time I saw Smoky… he was an image in my rearview mirror. In September 2019, I had gone to the Pawluk farm for what I expected would be my final visit with Smoky Cinder. I had travelled to Woodlands with the expressed purpose of spending time with...
Alberta Horsemen Contribute to Winnipeg Racing History
by Bob Gates Whittier Park, Polo Park and Assiniboia Downs owe a huge debt of gratitude to the horsemen who travelled near and far to race their four-legged athletes in Winnipeg. For the most part, these "out-of-towners" came from the central and mid-west United...
Stakes Honor Influential Builders at ASD
by Bob Gates R. C. Anderson, Frank Arnason, Jack Hardy, Phil Kives, R. J. Speers, J. W. Sifton and Hazel Wright make up the collective of builders that are remembered through memorial stake races in 2020 at Assiniboia Downs. There have been others over the years...
An Old Man’s Memories of Yesteryear
by Bob Gates Perhaps you've seen him before, the short heavy-set old man sitting on a bench in front of the grandstand. Certainly not recently because of the "no fans in the stands" directive, but in previous years the solitary senior could be found at his...