Jockey Antonio Whitehall congratulated by trainer Steve Keplin, Jr. after winning the third race on Wednesday with Prime Suspect. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) By G. S. Thompson Steve Keplin, Jr., Antonio Whitehall White Hot in Opening Week2025 Manitoba...
Original Manitoba Derby Trophy 1884 - 1934 (Speers Family) By Track Historian Bob Gates “Life isn’t a matter of milestones, but of moments.”- Rose Kennedy The 2026 season is now underway and isn’t it grand to have the ponies back in town. For more than 100 years,...
7-time leading ASD owner Henry S. Witt, Jr. (left) and 5-time leading trainer Jerry Gourneau will have a large and powerful stable at the Downs once again for 2026. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) By G.S. Thompson Trainers began filling the entry box for the first...
Racing returns to the Downs May 12, 2026 (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) By Track Historian Bob Gates “Good times never seemed so good.”– Sweet Caroline, Neil Diamond So good, so good… Well, at long last, live thoroughbred racing returns to the Downs. There was a...
By G.S. Thompson Trevor Phelps won the April Player's Choice Handicapping Tournament last Saturday, and for the second month in a row, it wasn't really close. Phelps built his $60.00 bankroll to $114.20 to claim the $1,000 first prize and trophy, finishing a...
Trainer Carl Anderson with stakes-placed Princeoftheprairie. (George Williams) By G.S. Thompson I had the pleasure of sitting down with master horse person Carl Anderson this week, just to reminisce about some of the good horses he has trained over the years. Anderson...
Trainer Jason Homer with Falsely Accused, one of his favourites. (George Williams) by G.S. Thompson It was a chilly Thursday morning in the ASD backstretch when we caught up with trainer Jason Homer, who is here for the second year in a row from Washington State with...
Mike Nault with Thick, a purchase from the Ontario Yearling Sale last year. (George Williams) by G.S. Thompson Trainer Mike Nault has been on a roll for the past three years, and it looks like he could be headed for another banner season in 2026. Nault has 20 horses...
Bill Drew with three-time stakes winner McKague at his farm in Oakbank. By G.S. Thompson Horse owner and retired agricultural consultant Bill Drew outdistanced the field to win the March Player's Choice Handicapping Tournament last Saturday with a whopping total of...
Groom/Assistant trainer Susan Crane with Welcometohollywood in trainer Jared Brown’s barn. (George Williams) By G.S. Thompson Trainer Jared Brown had his best season ever at Assiniboia Downs with regards to purse earnings in 2025, and he's assembled another powerful...