by Bob Gates It's been 50 years since Fire N Desire won the 21st running of the Manitoba Derby. The recent media flood of documentaries reminds us of another event that shares this anniversary. Fire N Desire's July 19, 1969 Derby romp took place on the eve of the...
by Bob Gates Polo Park racetrack played host to some of the most historic races in Western Canada including the Manitoba Derby, Canadian Derby, Winnipeg Futurity and the Western Canada Handicap, the latter of which featured some of the greatest weight carriers in...
by Bob Gates What's the wackiest injury that resulted in a jockey cancelling his mounts for the day? There aren't any records on the subject, but I think I've got a good one. On June 24, 1981 Larry Bird booked-off his mounts because he had sliced his finger while...
by Bob Gates When we left off last week's blog story, horse racing's future in Winnipeg looked bleak. R. J. Speers had known for some time that the Polo Park site was too valuable to be used for summer race meets and had taken an option on 200 acres in what was then...
by Bob Gates On Saturday, June 29 "The Speers" celebrates its 60th running, but what most don’t realize is that there is more than 90 years of history behind the race that honours Robert James Speers, the "Father of Thoroughbred Horse Racing" on the Canadian prairies....
by Bob Gates Following the death of one of the most popular and respected men in the history of thoroughbred racing in Western Canada in July 1977, Winnipeg Free Press sports editor Maurice Smith wondered, “Who among the loyal followers of horse racing in Winnipeg...
by Bob Gates "Someday, in the future, when a historian begins to record the story of western racing there will be a chapter for gallant little Joey - the Duchess of York - for Help Yourself and Yorkie Prince - for Madgu Don and for the men who, fired with their love...
by Bob Gates Sunday, May 26 was a typical afternoon on the backside at Assiniboia Downs, after all, horses don’t do weekends. But this Sunday, Death came calling, and when he left the Sayler family was stricken with grief. Ardell Sayler had been taken. Ardell's many...
by Bob Gates "A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust…" A catchy start for telling the tale of a thoroughbred, but not so much if it's the story of Traffic Sub. Traffic Sub was born and raised on the Minnesota homestead of his breeder George Monroe 50...
by Bob Gates The 2019 racing season is loaded with special anniversaries. Last week it was Barbara Jo Rubin and this week belongs to another jockey, Robert Roy "Bobby" Stewart. In 1969 the American Triple Crown races turned into a duel between Calgary resident Frank...