Groom Katie Morris in the ASD backstretch (George Williams photo)
Horses have arrived in the ASD backstretch for 2025!
Trainers Wendy Anderson, Mike Taphorn, and Devon Gittens all have horses in the backstretch now with more coming in shortly. The training track is expected to open on March 15, with horses currently using the Indoor Equicizer Training Facility.
Anderson has 20 horses on the grounds including last year’s Gold Cup winner Magic Tiger, who also won the Downs’ signature race for 3-year-olds and up in 2023. Taphorn has five horses at the track right now, and the star of his stable this year is expected to be 2024 Matron Stakes winner and champion Burrow Down.
Devon Gittens has five horses on the grounds with more slated to come in over the weekend. Manitoba-bred 2024 CTHS Stakes winner Mr. Splash will be one of the top horses in Gittens’ stable this year, and you can expect more good things from this talented young trainer.
Gittens split his time between Assiniboia Downs and Woodbine last year, and he will likely do the same this year. He was at Woodbine this week, preparing horses for a number of Manitoba owners, and he also conditions horses for Canada’s leading owner Bruno Schickedanz. Gittens won nine races at Woodbine last year and 21 races at Assiniboia Downs, where he finished fifth in the standings.
Also seen in action in the backstretch were top grooms Katie Morris and Beth Penton. Morris works for trainer Mike Taphorn, while Penton works for trainer Wendy Anderson.
“I have excellent help,” said Anderson.
And she does.