by George First, my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the late A. E. “Bert” Blake – a friend, a true gentleman and a tremendous horseman who unselfishly taught so many people so much. I worked for Bert in the ‘80s and spent good bit of time with him...
Schillerthekiller makes Big Move in Mud to win 2012 Free Press Stakes
by George Schillerthekiller went from last to first with a big move on the turn and drew out to win the $30,000 Free Press Stakes on Sunday in front of the largest Father’s Day crowd seen at Assiniboia Downs in decades. The fans began streaming into the Downs around...
Lone Bettor wins $4,495 Pick-4 on Muddy Saturday Afternoon at Downs
by George The track was muddy but the odds were great on a sunny Saturday afternoon at the Downs, and someone took home $4,495 as the lone winning ticket holder on the Pick-4. The day started off with a bang when $25 winner Sharp A held on to win by a neck under...
The Argument Started in the Gate, Don’t Forget Early Post Time Saturday: 1 p.m.
by George The Pick-4 came close to paying $4,000 on Friday night at ASD but Maintenance Man ($24.10) just couldn’t get by favored female Hurrionby ($2.65) no matter what her name said. Still, Maintenance Man received an excellent trip from jockey Paul Nolan, who...
2/3 Disqualified at Downs. Nevermind, have an ice cream.
by George It was DQ night at the Downs on Wednesday and we don’t mean Dairy Queen. Two of the seven races resulted in disqualifications and there was also a third claim of foul in the last race that didn’t hold up. In the third race Let’s Rocket ridden by Paul Nolan...
Honorable Lady Lives Up to Name with No-Quit Win in $30,000 La Verendrye Stakes at ASD
by George Honorable Lady has always been the kind of horse that keeps coming at you whether she has anything left or not, and it finally paid off for her on a rainy Saturday night at Assiniboia Downs with a 1 ¼-length victory in the $30,000 La Verendrye Stakes....
Balooga Bull Wins $30,000 Golden Boy to Stay Perfect at 6-for-6, Belmont Stakes Saturday
by George Balooga Bull made it 6-for-6 with a display of natural speed that made his competition look slow in the $30,000 Golden Boy Stakes at Assiniboia Downs on Friday night as he continued his march towards the $75,000 Manitoba Lotteries Derby on Monday, August 6....
Betting Against I’ll Have Another in the Belmont Stakes, Best Bets for the Weekend at ASD
by Rob Late Update: I'll Have Another scratched from Belmont Stakes Maybe I just don’t like the horse. Maybe I’m completely missing out on his brilliance. Maybe I’m completely wrong and I’ll Have Another will be the 12th Triple Crown winner, but I think not. Here’s...
Singh Wins Three and Survives Claim of Foul
by George Jockey Rohan Singh did his imitation of a hobo chasing a hotdog to win three races, survive a claim of foul and make an unsuccessful foul claim of his own on Wednesday night at the Downs. Singh won the second race aboard Lite the Cigar ($16.40) for trainer...
She’s Regal Wins $25,000 Hazel Wright Sire Stakes, Rarick Continues Hot Streak with Longshot
by George She’s Regal lived up to her favoured status in the $25,000 Hazel Wright Sire Stakes on a gorgeous Saturday night at Assiniboia Downs and trainer Wade Rarick continued his hot streak with a longshot in the last. Opening a short but clear lead early on the...