by Bob Let’s take a time out from our usual activities this week and remember James C. Hardy, the founder of Assiniboia Downs. The year was 1957, R. James Speers had been dead for two years, Polo Park race track had closed its doors in July 1956, and the demise of...
by Bob Have you ever noticed that when the subject of Manitoba breds comes up, it almost sounds like you find yourself having to apologize for the breed? To varying degrees, many of us have done that, but when you think about it, there have been some very good...
by Bob Sorry, Seabiscuit didn’t race here, but now that I have your attention let me tell you the story of a horse much like the “Biscuit” who raced in our fair city in the “dirty ‘30s” and early ‘40s. Joey was a champion racehorse whose career spanned 10 years from...
by Bob On Monday, August 6, the Manitoba Derby will celebrate its 64th running, but this past July 19 marked the 43rd anniversary of what might have been the best ever Derby run at Assiniboia Downs – one that was just out of this world. The 1969 classic had all of the...
by Bob Which horse holds the record for the most wins in a single season at Assiniboia Downs? Well, if I’ve done my homework correctly there are two steeds that can lay claim to the honour. Navy Days and Major Action each won 11 races in a single season here. Navy...
by Bob Okay, now there’s a title in need of an explanation! Over the next two weeks the Gold Strike Mile will be the featured stakes race and it will be run in two divisions. On July 20 Manitoba-bred 3-year-old colts and geldings will run one mile for a $15,000 purse...
by Bob The 37th running of the $50,000 R. C. Anderson Stakes for 3-year-old Manitoba-bred fillies goes Friday night and it is named in honour of Robert Carr Anderson. R. C. “Bob” Anderson was a well known and respected cattleman with a fondness for horses and the...
by Bob Who knew? The Downs has honoured the City of Brandon with a race carrying the name “Wheat City” since it first opened in 1958. According to old media guides and newspaper accounts this year’s Wheat City Stakes should be the 42nd running, but it’s actually the...
by Bob This Sunday marks the 36th running of the Canada Day Stakes. These days the race is for fillies and mares 3-and-up, who will compete for a $30,000 purse, but this race wasn’t always for fillies and mares. That restriction has evolved over the years, as has the...
by Bob I guess deep down I knew that one day it would happen, but honestly, the news hit me harder than I expected – Albert Edward “Bert” Blake passed away today, 10 days short of his 93rd birthday. Mr. Blake, and I apologize, I can’t bring myself to call him anything...