by Bob “The Buffalo” -- What a great name for a stakes race dedicated to Manitoba-breds! Is there a name that better represents our Province? This Sunday marks the 50th running of this prestigious race for the “babies,” Manitoba-bred 2-year-olds, who will be...
ASD
Speed and class prevail in championship stakes at ASD
by George There’s no question that the highlight of the past weekend at Assiniboia Downs was Balooga Bull demolishing his opposition in the 55th running of the $50,000 Gold Cup on Saturday night. The time for the race wasn’t fast, 1:51.80 for the 1 1/8-miles, but he...
Balooga Bull highlights Championship Weekend at ASD
by Rob The second last weekend of live racing will highlight four of the final five stakes races of the year. These four races will determine divisional honors and will stamp some of our equine athletes as horses for the ages. These $50,000 races are the Matron, the...
Remembering John W. Sifton, Master of Stoneacres Farm
by Bob The 43rd running of the $50,000 J. W. Sifton Memorial for Manitoba-bred 3-year-old colts and geldings takes place this Friday at Assiniboia Downs. The race is named in honour of a very special "Manitoba" horseman who died much to young. John W. Sifton may have...
Workouts: Transferring morning glory to the Winner’s Circle
by Rob Using workouts in your handicapping can help you to spot three types of horses ready to run well: first time starters, horses coming off a freshening and stakes horses. First time starters are working themselves into shape to run their first race, horses coming...
The Gray Boys dominated the ASD trainer standings from 1970-80
by Bob What more can be said about two men – brothers who dominated the leading trainer standings at Assiniboia Downs from 1970 to 1980? Clayton Gray won seven training titles (1970, 72, 73, 74, 76, 79, 80) and older brother Don Gray won three titles (1975, 77, 78)....
Pierre Lapin, Dance the Dance, highlight Labour Day Weekend at ASD, Pick-4 pays $4,747.40
by George Pierre Lapin and Dance the Dance recorded the highlight performances of the Labour Day Long Weekend at Assiniboia Downs and a few lucky fans scored big when the $2 Pick-4 on Monday paid $4,747.40. Happy Hour Stable’s Pierre Lapin won his fourth race from six...
Happy Birthday Gary Danelson! All-time leading trainer at Assiniboia Downs!
by Bob Gary Danelson, son of Henry and Hazel, and a native of Scobey Montana, is the all-time leading trainer at Assiniboia Downs. He entered the 2012 season with 1,115 wins and has now added 12 more to sit atop the all-time leader board at the Downs with 1,127 wins....
Pure Glory wins 2012 Agassiz, Pick-4 pays over $10,000
by George Pure Glory pounced early under former Jamaican riding champ Trevor Simpson and wired the field in the $50,000 Agassiz Stakes by 3 ¼-lengths on Saturday night at ASD, capping off a $2 Pick-4 that paid a whopping $10,923. Was it gettable? It certainly was for...
Tough Manitoba-bred Victor’s Pride made no apologies
by Bob Have you ever noticed that when the subject of Manitoba breds comes up, it almost sounds like you find yourself having to apologize for the breed? To varying degrees, many of us have done that, but when you think about it, there have been some very good...