Dr. Joe “Doc” Meek: A Half-Century of Dedicated Service at Assiniboia Downs

Celebration of Life memorial card. (Stacey Meek)

By Track Historian Bob Gates

There wasn’t an empty seat to be found at Assiniboia Downs on June 15, 2026. Friends, family and members of the racing community packed the main floor to celebrate the life of Dr. Joe “Doc” Meek—a man whose quiet dedication touched countless lives, both human and equine, over more than five decades.

Before telling Doc’s story, one point deserves clarification. Following his passing, some online sources mistakenly identified Dr. Gordon Meek and Dr. Joe Meek as two different veterinarians. They were, in fact, the same person. Gordon was his given name, but from childhood he was known simply as Joe. Throughout his remarkable career, he became affectionately known to everyone as “Doc”.

All who spoke at the event did a marvelous job under the most emotionally charged circumstances. You could feel the love they had for the man they called Doc. The speakers included his life-long friend, Dr. Norm Elder, Melissa Sobey, who considered him to be a second father, a close cousin, Sheree Meredith, grandchildren Sydney Meek and Hudson Meek-Toews and his one and only daughter, Stacey Meek. To say that Stacey and Doc were close would be a huge understatement. Her eulogy was exceptional and would have made him proud.

How do you describe Dr. Joe Meek? First, he loved country music, and he had the work ethic of ten men. Here’s what his career resume would look like:

• Provided early care for both large and small animals in rural Manitoba and later transitioned to the McPhillips Animal Hospital in Winnipeg.
• Served 53 years as the MHRC’s veterinarian for horse racing at Assiniboia Downs.
• For more than two decades he held the position of Chief Field Veterinarian for the Province of Manitoba, while also sitting on the Manitoba Veterinarian Board.
• Weiller & Williams’ on-staff veterinarian at the Winnipeg Livestock Auction Mart.

As Chief Field Veterinarian for the province his role brought him in contact with many of God’s creatures, including but not restricted to dogs and puppies, cats and kittens, sheep, horses, cattle, foxes, goats, a lion, a tiger, cougar cubs, pigeons, doves, rabbits, hamsters and geese.

His work for the MHRC at Assiniboia Downs saw him conduct morning inspections of all horses that were scheduled to race that day. He would return to the track later in the day to monitor the horses while they were being saddled in the paddock before each race. He would then accompany the horses to the starting gate with the rest of the Downs gate crew to once again oversee the running of each race.

Did I mentioned that during racing season, in between his morning and the evening track duties that he would attend to his full-time job with the province.

Doc retired in 2022 after 53 years with the MHRC. During his time with the Commission, he would have inspected thousands of horses.

He enjoyed his time at Assiniboia Downs and took pride in all aspects of that work. Even the part when it became necessary for him to attend an injury of one of the equine athletes. Thoroughbreds love to run and serious injuries can happen on the racetrack. They are extremely rare.

To no one’s surprise, Doc had a tough time with retirement. For him, life had purpose when he was working and were it not for an inner ear issue, he would have continued with his racetrack work for as long as his body would have let him. It was his balance problem that forced him to call it a career at 85, an age when most others would have long since taken retirement.

Here are some of the words used when they spoke of the Doc: consummate professional, true gentleman, dedicated, humble, caring, knowledgeable, generous, gentle, kind, pleasant and this list goes on and on.

For his “second” daughter Melissa, there will always be a memory of Doc’s empty chair at the Friday sales at the stockyard.

For daughter, Stacey there’s the memory of her dad at Assiniboia Downs, in the paddock and at the starting gate with his white shirt and tie that she will forever remember.

Doc spent his life being a provider and protector. He suffered the loss of his wife, Diane in 2002 and son, Jeff in 2025. He has more than earned the right to take a moment, so the following passage is for you Sir!

The Final Pause: When Death Finds Me.
– Ticus Poetry

And when death finds me,

I hope it whispers,

“Come now, the fight is done,”

And takes my hand gently,

like an old friend who understands

why I’m so tired.

I hope it says,

“You’ve carried enough,

let me hold this weight for you.”

I hope it promises,

“Here there is quiet.

Here you can rest.”

 One of Doc’s favourite songs was Toby Keith’s “How Do You Like Me Now?”

To which our answer will forever remain the same . . .

We like you just fine, Doc. Simply fine, good Sir!

But wish you were here.