Robert James Speers circa 1940 by Bob Gates, Track Historian Ever notice that time seems to move more quickly than it used to? The Kentucky Derby and Mothers’ Day are now firmly in the rearview mirror. This year’s race meet at Assiniboia Downs will mark several...
And they're off! (Jason Halstead) By Track Historian Bob Gates When opening night rolls around on Tuesday, May 13th it will have been 230 days since we said goodbye to “live” racing on September 24, 2024. Yes, it’s been about 7 ½-months since last year’s race meet...
Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present. ~ Unknown By Bob Gates Can you believe it, the middle of September has come and gone. The days are shorter, nights are cooler, and that means the 2024 live...
By Bob Gates Every now and again a story idea comes along, and I wonder how it is that I haven’t done it already. I’ve written well over 200 blogs, yet I somehow missed “Michigan,” and that just doesn’t seem right. Michigan Avenue was a stakes-placed gelding who...
By Bob Gates Since assuming my duties as your track historian 15 years ago, several interesting artifacts have been unearthed. You may have noticed some of them on display in the Downs Racing Through Time area. However, there are others waiting for their turn in the...
Jack Hardy Founder & President, Assiniboia Downs, 1958-1974 By Bob Gates Fifty years ago James C. Hardy, founder of Assiniboia Downs, presided over his final year of racing at our Portage Avenue racetrack. The 56-day season began on May 12 and ended on August 11,...
Gary Danelson Leading Trainer Plaque By Bob Gates This August 28th our dear friend from Scobey, Montana will be celebrating 87 trips around the sun and August 29th will mark the 65th anniversary of his first win at Assiniboia Downs. The other day I gave Gary a quick...
Island Fling in 1979 with the original Gold Cup trophy By Bob Gates Nothing draws more attention than a good mystery. The mere mention of Loch Ness, Stonehenge, Bigfoot, Amelia Earhart or the Bermuda Triangle will captivate any audience. Our focus on the local horse...
Victory Gift, September 4, 1948 By Bob Gates Victory Gift: Three Generations of Success Over the years Assiniboia Downs has been blessed with some of the finest fillies and mares in horseracing. We thought we had seen the best of the best with likes of: Miss Missile...
By Bob Gates The Manitoba Derby goes Monday August 5th and for some of us horse racing die-hards it's like a second Christmas. How about another one of our photo blogs? This time around we searched the archives for some of those not-so-standard winner circle shots of...