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, horseracing has been a major contributor to the local sports scene. The hoofprints and footprints from four racetracks have painted a colourful landscape of the “Sport of Kings” in Winnipeg and its surrounding area.
From 1922 to 1956 racing as we know it today took place at River Park (1922 to 1925 & 1934), Whittier Park (1924 to 1942), and Polo Park (1925 to 1956). Racing went dark in 1957, with Assiniboia Downs starting its 68-year (and counting) run on June 10, 1958.
So how about some memories!
1931 – 95 years ago: Parisienne became the first filly to win the Manitoba Derby. She is one of only seven fillies to win the race.
1941 – 85 years ago: James Speers sacrificed the name “The Manitoba Derby” for the sake of having a race with a national flavour and so it was that the Canadian Derby was born from our own Manitoba Derby. 1941 marked the inaugural running of the Canadian Derby and the Manitoba Derby would be “retired” until Jack Hardy resurrected the race in 1960.
1946 – 80 years ago: September 6 saw Polo Park play host to Hollywood comedians Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. The feature race on the Friday night card was the Abbott & Costello Handicap. Following the running of the race, the pair were on hand to present floral decorations to the winning connections.
Whittier Park Racetrack under flood waters spring 1950 (Berube Family)
1951 – 75 years ago: Whittier Park’s mutuel plant, grandstand and paddock were demolished after the 1950 raging flood waters irreparably damaged the facilities at the St. Boniface racetrack.
1956 – 70 years ago: On July 4, Polo Park racetrack conducted its final day of racing. At the close of the 1956 season horse racing in Winnipeg came to a screeching halt. With Speers’ death in 1955 the drive to get a new racetrack off the ground stalled. His estate was unable to continue with the business scheme that would return racing to Winnipeg.
1966 – 60 years ago: On July 22, the final race on the Friday night card was scheduled to go at 9:38 p.m. and daylight was in short supply. Downs General Manager, Scotty Kennedy ordered that the newly installed track lighting be turned on, and for the first time in the history of Winnipeg racing the thoroughbreds went to post under the lights.
Jockey Bobby Stewart won his first of a record six Downs leading rider titles. He would add five more before he was done. Bob’s resume also included the distinction of being the first rider at the Downs to reach the 500-, 600- and 700- win plateau.
1971 – 55 years ago: The current record daily double payout at the Downs was set on July 23 when Royal Jerry and Seek the Glory paid $4,235.50. However, this “bombs away” payout fell short of what is believed to be the all-Canadian record which was set at Whittier Park on June 9, 1942. On that day, the combination of Pagan Royal and Mesmerist paid $4,835.55.
1976 – 50 years ago: Robert James Speers was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
On June 6, a violent prairie storm lashed the Downs. It only lasted four minutes, but the devastation was horrific. The winds were clocked at more than 100 kph. Eight large plate glass windows in the southwest corner of the third-floor grandstand imploded. The final three races of the day were cancelled and the clean-up began. It marked the first time that a Winnipeg race program had been called off due to a storm.
On June 23, 22-year-old Jim Sorenson established a Downs record for most wins on a single card, when he rode seven winners.
Merry’s Jay became the first Manitoba bred to win the Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia Downs.
Clayton Gray scores the 4th of his five Downs leading training titles. Clayton also holds the distinction of being the first trainer in Downs history to reach the 300- and 400-win plateau.
1981 – 45 years ago: On May 18, a mutuel record was set when a $2 Triactor ticket paid $40,026.60.
The largest single season handle record of $53,394,913 was established. It would be eclipsed in the 2020 season when the handle soared to $63,264,000 and then again in 2025 when wagering totaled a staggering $75,275,018.
Irwin Driedger rode 214 winners in 1981 (Gerry Hart)
Jockey Irwin Driedger rewrote the Downs record book when he rode 214 winners in the 134-day season, bettering his own mark of 180 winners that he set in 1980.
On June 15, Jockey Jimmy Anderson won his 725th race to overtake Bobby Stewart as the Downs all-time winning jockey. A record Jim would hold until July 8 when Ken Hendricks took the lead. Hendricks who still holds the title, would finish his career in 2008 with 1,685 wins at the Portage Avenue oval.
1986 – 40 years ago: On May 31, the largest win price at the Downs was set when Canadian Border paid $474.20 for a $2 wager. On August 13, the $2 “Twin Triactor” paid a record $212,824.30.
1991 – 35 years ago: Assiniboia Downs founder, Jack Hardy passed on September 28. Ten years later in 2001, he was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
2001 – 25 years ago: Ardell Sayler won his 4th Downs leading trainer title. He would add eight more to set the record for most Downs leading trainer titles with 12.
Trainer Gary Danelson chalked up win #880 at the Downs, overtaking the late, great Don Gray who amassed 879 wins before he passed away on Christmas Day 1993. Don was the first trainer to reach the 500-, 600-, 700- and 800-win plateau. Gary still holds the title of the Downs all-time leading trainer with 1,255 career wins.
2006 – 20 years ago: Larry Carter’s Elite Mercedes won the Gold Cup. That same season he also won the Wheat City and the Speers to become the first horse in Downs history to sweep those races.
2011 – 15 years ago: Downs female jockeys established a record when seven of the eight races were won by horses piloted by women. Jocelyne Kenny had the hat trick, Janine Stianson won twice, with Jennifer Reed and Alyssa Harder scoring singles.
Steve Keplin, Jr. leading trainer in 2025 (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
2016 – 10 years ago: Tom Gardipy Jr. won his 4th of six leading trainer titles. In 2021 Jerry Gourneau won his 2nd of five titles. Add to this, Lee Delaronde’s win in 2024 and Steve Keplin Jr.’s win in 2025, and that makes 11 consecutive wins by First Nations trainers!
While Assiniboia Downs looks to the future, we fondly remember the hoofprints and footprints . . .
Of times gone by.