by Bob Gates It's been 57 years since Jack Hardy resurrected our Manitoba Derby in 1960 and this year's Derby is the 69th running of what was once touted as the "Run for the Tartan." I've never been a math genius, but those figures just don't add up. The problem...
by Bob Gates All of you who remember or who have ever heard of a horse named "Bimbo" please raise your hands. I don't see many arms in the air. That's not unexpected. Until I found an old obscure newspaper article from the now defunct Winnipeg Tribune I didn't know...
by Bob When it comes to Derby memories, it gets no better than Merry's Jay win on August 2, 1976. And it couldn't have happened to a nicer couple. Hugh and Ruth Jackson were another one of those special husband/wife teams that called Assiniboia Downs home. Our...
Manitoba Derby, 66th Running Distance: 1 1/8 Miles. Age: 3-Year-Olds. Purse: $75,000 Guaranteed Weights: Fillies, 121 lbs. Colts & Geldings, 124 lbs. Fees: $100 to nominate - $700 to enter - $700 to start Click horse names for more information. Post Horse &...
by Rob The seven horses in Monday's Manitoba Derby make up a competitive field that should provide both a fast pace and a closing kick, which makes for a wonderful show! All of the competitors have strengths that make them interesting, but also have weaknesses that...
by George Northern Contract is just getting started in his career but he has already won three of six starts including the local Golden Boy Stakes. Trainer Don Schnell thought highly enough of the son of Northern Afleet to run him in the Turf Paradise Derby in his...
by George Street Prancer has been looking for a perfect spot to run in. The Manitoba Derby fits the bill. And his Eclipse Award winning trainer Steve Asmussen certainly knows where to run his horses. Asmussen currently ranks second in North America with 189 wins and...
by George Stormello had both speed and courage, with his best performance being a game nose loss to Scat Daddy in the 2007 Fountain of Youth-G1 going the distance of the Manitoba Derby, 1 1/8-miles, as he was just beginning his 3-year-old career. Stormello passed on...
by George If winning the Manitoba Derby was based solely on the company you kept, Master Lightning would be tough to beat. The royally-bred stakes-placed son of Bluegrass Stakes-G1 winner Pulpit had been running competitively against the best 3-year-olds in North...
by George On Andy's Advice is one of two horses in this year's Manitoba Derby conditioned by veteran horseman Wally T.M. Pugh. Like his stablemate Wilko Rum, On Andy's Advice is by 2004 Breeders' Cup Juvenile-G1 winner Wilko, and if you want a good example of pure...