by Bob Gates This year marks the 10th season that the history blog has been recalling racing memories. Back in 2012, I was asked to write a weekly historical blog that would run during the Downs live thoroughbred race meet. Fast forward to the present -- 180 stories...
by Bob In the world of Norse mythology, Thor is recognized as the God of Thunder, but he is also closely associated with lightning and storms. On Sunday, June 6, 1976 Assiniboia Downs was the victim of his wrath! The day started off like any other, with me and my...
First Manitoba-bred ever to win the Manitoba Derby by Bob In 1976 Merry’s Jay won the Harry Jeffrey Stakes. Eight days later he became the first Manitoba-bred ever to win our own Manitoba Derby. Only two other horses have won the Harry Jeffrey Stakes (which is...
by Bob This Sunday marks the 36th running of the Canada Day Stakes. These days the race is for fillies and mares 3-and-up, who will compete for a $30,000 purse, but this race wasn’t always for fillies and mares. That restriction has evolved over the years, as has the...