War veteran always had a special place in his heart for horses by Bob Wendell Holmes Mustard was born near Gladstone, Manitoba on January 23, 1896 to Hugh and Catherine Mustard. He was destined to take over the family farm, but WWI would come first. Mustard...
Robert James Speers – Father of Thoroughbred Horse Racing on the Canadian Prairies
Famed racing icon died three years before Assiniboia Downs was built but laid foundation for the future by Bob It’s been 20 years now since the Manitoba Jockey Club (MJC) took over Assiniboia Downs, and we owe a great deal to them for their contributions to the...
Wake Island, Rosemary’s Baby, together again
Special horse made headlines during summer of '67 at ASD while Winnipeg hosted Pan-Am Games by Bob It was Canada’s Centennial and Winnipeg was playing host to the Pan American Games, yet a young racehorse, Wake Island, found a way to make headlines in the local...
Dynamic duo dominated rider standings at Downs for 10 years
Bobby Stewart and Dick Armstrong had different styles, but got similar results. They won. by Bob From 1962 to 1972, two jockeys dominated the leading rider standings at Assiniboia Downs. In that 11-year period George Richard “Dickie” Armstrong and Robert Roy...
Dawn breaks on season #56 at Assiniboia Downs
Fond memories of opening day at the Downs by Bob It’s hard to believe that seven months have passed since we put a wrap on the 2012 live racing season. The winter was a tough one and spring posed more challenges for the Manitoba Jockey Club than Chair, Harvey...
Rob’s Wrap – ASD 2012 Live Racing Season
by Rob The 2012 racing season drew to a close, leaving memories and moments that were incredibly exciting. Balooga Bull dominated over all comers, Portales nailed Tigger Town at the wire in the Winnipeg Futurity and Miss Victoriana made it three years in a row in the...
The Buffalo Stakes celebrates 50 years!
by Bob “The Buffalo” -- What a great name for a stakes race dedicated to Manitoba-breds! Is there a name that better represents our Province? This Sunday marks the 50th running of this prestigious race for the “babies,” Manitoba-bred 2-year-olds, who will be...
Remembering John W. Sifton, Master of Stoneacres Farm
by Bob The 43rd running of the $50,000 J. W. Sifton Memorial for Manitoba-bred 3-year-old colts and geldings takes place this Friday at Assiniboia Downs. The race is named in honour of a very special "Manitoba" horseman who died much to young. John W. Sifton may have...
The Gray Boys dominated the ASD trainer standings from 1970-80
by Bob What more can be said about two men – brothers who dominated the leading trainer standings at Assiniboia Downs from 1970 to 1980? Clayton Gray won seven training titles (1970, 72, 73, 74, 76, 79, 80) and older brother Don Gray won three titles (1975, 77, 78)....
Happy Birthday Gary Danelson! All-time leading trainer at Assiniboia Downs!
by Bob Gary Danelson, son of Henry and Hazel, and a native of Scobey Montana, is the all-time leading trainer at Assiniboia Downs. He entered the 2012 season with 1,115 wins and has now added 12 more to sit atop the all-time leader board at the Downs with 1,127 wins....