Robert James Speers circa 1940
by Bob Gates, Track Historian
Ever notice that time seems to move more quickly than it used to? The Kentucky Derby and Mothers’ Day are now firmly in the rearview mirror. This year’s race meet at Assiniboia Downs will mark several milestone memories, so let’s take a look at some history.
1920 – 105 years ago: Elmbank, Ontario born Robert James Speers moved from Wilkie, Saskatchewan to Winnipeg. Two years later, together with partners Thomas Sumner and William Halpenny, Speers took over a three-year lease at River Park.
1925 – 100 years ago: Speers, together with the Winnipeg Jockey Club, built Polo Park Racetrack. In 1925 racing in Winnipeg was held at all three local racetracks, River Park, Whittier Park, which was built in 1924, and Polo Park.
1930 – 95 years ago: The Winnipeg Futurity was inaugurated by Speers as a race for 2-year-old Western Canadian-breds. Over the years the Futurity has showcased the finest young horses and remains the premier event on the 2-year-old racing calendar.
Bocage - Manitoba Derby, August 13, 1960 (Downs archive)
The first Manitoba Derby was run. However, from 1930 to 1933 it was known as the Manitoba Stakes.
1940 – 85 years ago: The final Manitoba Derby was run at Polo Park Racetrack. In 1941 the race gave way to the inaugural running of the Canadian Derby which was run at Polo Park until the track closed in 1956.
1955 – 70 years ago: On July 19th racing icon Robert James Speers suffered a massive heart attack and died at the age of 72.
1960 – 65 years ago: The Manitoba Derby, with its storied past from 11 previous runnings (1930-1940) was resurrected by Jack Hardy.
Winnipeg native, Tommy Stadnyk won his second of three Downs leading jockey titles.
On June 29th Jockey Bobby Stewart rode his first ever winner right here at the Downs. It was young Stewart’s first year at the Downs, and he scored only six wins that season, three of which came courtesy of Royal Ghost.
1965 – 60 years ago: On July 2nd, Dick Armstrong became the Downs all-time leading rider with 247 wins, bettering Tommy Stadnyk’s record.
Bob “Boo Boo” Watt won his second of three leading trainer titles. Watt was the first trainer to score 100, 200 and 250 lifetime wins at the Downs. Bob was the Downs all-time leading trainer from 1966 to 1978, when Clayton Gray took over.
1970 – 55 years ago: The John W. Sifton Memorial had its inaugural run.
The Manitoba Derby was run on Manitoba’s 100th birthday July 15, 1970. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll and her family were special guests of Jack Hardy with the Queen donating her “Cup” which has been presented to the winner of the race since 1970.
Jockey Bobby Stewart won his fourth of six record-setting leading rider titles. In the late 1970s Bobby Stewart became the Downs all-time winning jockey. Bob closed out his 1970 campaign with 486 career wins, passing Dick Armstrong’s total of 478 wins.
Gary Danelson won his second of three training titles. His third title would come 33 years later in 2003. Gary is currently the Downs all-time leading trainer with 1,255 victories, and this August he will celebrate his 88th birthday. Happy Bday Gary!
1975 – 50 years ago: On June 11tj horseman Robert Carr “Bob” Anderson passed away. This year the race named in his honour, The R. C. Anderson Memorial Stakes, celebrates its 50th running.
Downs all-time leading jockey, Ken “Hank” Hendricks won his second of two riding titles. Hank rode a record 1,685 winners in his riding career at the Downs. This is one record that will stand as long as there is horse racing in Winnipeg, no other rider is remotely close. Sadly, we lost Hank earlier this year.
Trainer Don Gray won his first of three leading trainer titles. Don became the all-time leading trainer at the Downs on July 12, 1983, passing his brother Clayton, when he scored win 453 with K5 Stables Admiration. At the time of his untimely death in 1993, Don was the Downs all-time leading trainer. It was a title that he would continue to hold until Gary Danelson passed him in 2001, eight years after Don’s death.
1980 – 45 years ago: Jockey Irwin Driedger, another Manitoba product, won his second of four Downs riding titles.
Trainer Clayton Gray won his seventh and final leading trainer title at the Downs. Clayton was the first trainer to reach the 300 and 400-win plateau. The man from Dominion City won a total of 600 races during his 30-season career at the Downs.
1985 – 40 years ago: On May 3rd Bobby Stewart’s troubled life came to a tragic end. The details of exactly what transpired that fateful day are sketchy, but Bob’s earthly pain was over. He was only 40 years old.
1990 – 35 years ago: Jockey Brian Bochinski, another local product, won his second of three Downs leading rider titles before trying his hand at tracks in the east.
On August 12th, Hall of Fame jockey Irwin Driedger rode the final race of his career, choosing to make his last ride at his home track, Assiniboia Downs. Irwin passed away on May 20, 2023.
Trainer Tom Dodds set a new single season record for wins by a trainer when he chalked up 78 victories.
The Jockey Club of Canada named Downs owner James Wright “Man of the Year.”
1995 – 30 years ago: On October 9th, trainer Tom Dodds won his fourth Winnipeg Futurity with Fight Fast, a Futurity record, and to put some icing on this record, Tom’s wins were accomplished in consecutive years, from 1992 to 1995.
2005 – 20 years ago: Ardell Sayler won his seventh leading trainer title at Assiniboia Downs; he would go on to win a record 12 titles. Tragically, just as the 2019 racing season was underway, Ardell passed on May 26th.
2010 – 15 years ago: On May 28th then track announcer Darren Dunn called his 15,000th race. He would conclude his career in the booth calling more than 18,000 races, before turning the microphone over to Kirt Contois in 2012.
On December 22nd, Darren Dunn was named Chief Executive Officer of Assiniboia Downs, and Sharon Gulyas was appointed Vice President of Finance and Gaming.
Perhaps you recall hearing some of these memories previously, and that’s okay. I fondly recall my “whiskies in the den” chats with Downs patriarch Albert Edward Blake. There were more than a few times when he’d repeat a story, but the thing is, his story never varied. It was exactly the same. However, with the repetition came a better memory of the history he shared. Thank you Sir…
And let’s keep making history!