By Bob Gates
The Manitoba Derby goes Monday August 5th and for some of us horse racing die-hards it’s like a second Christmas. How about another one of our photo blogs? This time around we searched the archives for some of those not-so-standard winner circle shots of Derby champions past. Please enjoy!
Brother Leo:
August 5, 1963 – 15th Running
Owner/Trainer: W. H. Murphy
Jockey: F. Inda
Winnipeg Free Press headline: “Murphy’s Brother Leo Wins Derby – ‘Spud’s’ Greatest Thrill”
Calgary horseman, Spud Murphy’s Derby victory was one of the most popular in our history. The chestnut gelding was named after Spud’s brother, Leo (Assiniboia Downs Historical Photo).
Speedy Zephyr
July 17, 1971 – 23rd Running
Owner: G. Rathbeg
Trainer: L. Lear
Jockey: H. Hinojosa
Winnipeg Free Press headline: “Speedy Zephyr Lives Up To His Name – Nine-Furlong Record Rewritten”
Speedy was a monster on Derby Day as he outclassed his 11 competitors in a driving prairie rainstorm. He set a new track record for the 1 1/8-mile distance, winning with ease by 7 ½ lengths. (Gerry Hart Photo).
Giboulee
September 18, 1977 – 29th Running
Owner: J. L. Levesque
Trainer: J. Dumas
Jockey: R. Grubb
Winnipeg Free Press headline: “Giboulee storms to win”
The bay son of Northern Dancer’s win gave owner J. L. Levesque a then record three wins in the Manitoba classic. Who Knew: Earlier in 1977 Giboulee competed in the Kentucky Derby. While his “Run for the Roses” was not a winning effort, he finished a credible seventh against the mighty Seattle Slew. (Gerry Hart Photo)
Overskate
September 9, 1978 – 30th Running
Owner: Stafford Farm
Trainer: G. Rowntree
Jockey: R. Platts
Winnipeg Free Press headline: “Tiny Overskate comes up big in Derby”
Overskate toyed with his five rivals en route to a 13 ½-length victory. His only challenge that day was keeping his mind on the race in which he set a new track record for 1 1/8-miles. His time of 1:47 3/5 still stands today (Gerry Hart Photo).
Country Free
August 3, 1980 – 32nd Running
Owner: ¼ Acre Stable
Trainer: L. Moser
Jockey: R. Hansen
Winnipeg Free Press headline: “Favored Country Free makes claimers of field”
Country Free out-dueled local hopefuls, Mr. Macho and Northern Spike and survived a claim of foul to top the 1980 Derby field (Gerry Hart Photo).
No Malice
August 1, 1988 – 40th Running
Owner: Rocco Marcello
Trainer: B. Marko
Jockey: J. Krone
Winnipeg Free Press headline: “Great unexpectations – No Malice wins Derby in hot finish”
There are people who still talk about the tremendous ride Julie Krone gave No Malice in the stretch run. Hometown heroes Sonshire and Major Pick ran third and fourth respectively that day (Gerry Hart Photo).
My Imperial Slew
August 4, 1997 – 49th Running
Owner: J. R. Belanger
Trainer: J. Attard
Jockey: R. Dos Ramos
Winnipeg Free Press headline: “Derby just another day for My Imperial Slew – Seattle Slew’s grandson doesn’t sweat major races”
My Imperial Slew and our own Smoky Cinder were co-second favourites and they put on quite a show in the race for the wire. My Imperial Slew would prevail and win by 3 ¼-lengths with Smoky settling for third place (Gerry Hart Photo).
A Fleets Dancer
August 3, 1998 – 50th Running
Owners: C. & D. Allard
Trainer: R. Cone
Jockey: R. Simard
Winnipeg Free Press headline: “Dancer puts boots to rivals – Alberta-based colt overcomes pre-race tension to win Derby”
The Derby attracted a modest 6-horse field which saw Rod Cone’s big Alberta chestnut best five others to win the historic 50th Running of the Manitoba Derby (Gerry Hart Photo).
Well another Manitoba Derby will soon be in the books, and we still have a full half-season of racing to go. Be sure to mark your calendar, the Derby goes Monday evening, August 5th.
As usual, I will be in the front lobby area with a Manitoba Derby photo array. There will also be a special “Assiniboia Downs Remembers – The Manitoba Derby” display, featuring memorabilia from Derbies of the past. Please be sure to drop by check it out.
“And I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight…”
Happy Manitoba Derby to all and to all an “I’ll see you there!”