The Manitoba HBPA is looking for experienced grooms and morning exercise riders for the 2014 Assiniboia Downs racing season. Assiniboia Downs is located at 3975 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Morning Jockeys/ Exercise Riders: Required to condition...
The Rob’s, Questions Answered, Questions Posed
by Rob The 2013 race meet was highlighted by a group of horses that dominated their respective divisions. It was an absolute honour to watch these horses dominate each group. The memories roll back of Balooga Bull’s comeback, of Zdeno’s Futurity and of Portales’ big...
A Total Eclipse of the (Gerry) Hart? No.
by Bob Track photographer Gerry Hart retiring? No, but while this may not be Gerry’s final season at the Downs, it will probably be the last year that he operates on his own. Maybe we should think of his work cut-back as more of a “partial eclipse.” Gerry has...
Balooga Bull wins second consecutive Assiniboia Downs Gold Cup, silences critics
by George Paul Brandt’s Balooga Bull silenced all naysayers with his second consecutive victory in the $50,000 Assiniboia Downs Gold Cup on Saturday night, becoming only the sixth horse in 56 years to win the prestigious race in back-to-back years. Trained by...
Divine Wisdom wins J. W. Sifton, Balooga Bull takes on Manitoba Derby winner in $50,000 Gold Cup Saturday
by George Off 2 Win Stable’s Divine Wisdom probably had to work a little harder than he would have liked to win the $50,000 J.W. Sifton Stakes on Friday night, but he was up to the task when it counted. Ridden by leading rider Paul Nolan, the Manitoba-bred...
Janine Smith first female jockey to win $50,000 Winnipeg Futurity in 84 years
by George Jockey Janine Smith was in the spotlight again on Saturday night at Assiniboia Downs when she became the first female jockey in history to win the $50,000 Winnipeg Futurity. Quite an accomplishment for the 24-year-old rider from Denman B.C....
Nolan moves to 6-win lead in jockey standings, Smith makes Pick-4 pay big
by George Paul Nolan scored a hat trick with wins in the first, second and sixth races on Friday night at the Downs, Adrian Ramos won a pair and Janine Smith booted home Prairie Eclipse in the seventh to cement an excellent Pick-4 payoff. Nolan had to survive a...
Bull bounces back; local owners get 1st & 2nd in Matron
By Ivan Bigg for George (on holidays) The Bull is back to his old winning self. Balooga Bull, Horse of the Year at 2- and 3-years-old, showed on Friday that his talent is still intact at 4 despite an uncharacteristic fourth-place finish in his previous race, the Wheat...
Rob’s ASD Picks and Wagering Strategies for August 23-24, 2013
by Rob Week 1 of Bankroll Bob V.2 was a small success, $250 through the windows and a return of $278.15. I thought I had a shot to show a lot more profit but Pelee Island didn’t get up into the top two, Great Cause encountered serious traffic issues to finish sixth...
Heavy favourites win ASD stakes, Pick-4 pool swells to $44,534
by George Favourites scored in five of the eight races on Saturday night at the Downs, including the $30,000 Agassiz and the $30,000 Distaff, and the Pick-4 carryover from Friday night stimulated the pool to reach an astonishing $44,534 before the fourth race....