by Bob So what do an Egyptian God and a horse named Papyrus have to do with our Osiris Stakes? According to Egyptian mythology, “Osiris” is the name given to the god of the afterlife. It is also the name of a racehorse that was foaled in England in 1926....
ASD
Rob’s ASD Picks and Wagering Strategies for August 16-17, 2013
by Rob A few years ago a long-time owner and racegoer Bob King spent a month narrating his picks in a blog. His musings, as wacky and off-beat as they might have been, were sometimes interesting to read. Over the last five weeks of the season that’s what I have...
Cecil James Filby – Extraordinarily Ordinary Man
by Bob Anyone who has been around the Downs for a while has likely heard of Cecil Filby, and as our Manitoba Derby fast approaches some may wonder why I selected him for this week’s remembrance. Was it for his accomplishments in our prestigious Derby? Was it for his...
15 minutes with Smoky Cinder
Competitive fires still burning in local living legend by Bob Who knew? Downs’ legendary graded stakes-placed and multiple stakes winner Smoky Cinder, a grandson of the mighty Northern Dancer, is alive and well at 20! One night at the track I approached the man...
Merry’s Jay: Lord of Avondale and the Toast of Manitoba
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...
A Girl’s Gotta Do does just that in $50,000 R.C. Anderson Stakes at ASD
$4,482 Manitoba-bred yearling powers away from field for Last Call Stable by George Last Call Stable’s A Girl’s Gotta Do powered away in the stretch to win the $50,000 R.C. Anderson Stakes by 9 ¾-lengths on Saturday night at Assiniboia Downs, and it was never...
Manitoba Lotteries Derby weekend stakes shaping up perfectly for fans and bettors
Rob's Picks and Analysis for July 12, 13, Preview of Derby weekend stakes by Rob I’m going to spend the next few paragraphs dealing with “what ifs” and speculating on things that could happen three weeks down the road on Manitoba Lotteries Derby weekend. Five...
Body Works, Super Filly and Grandam to a Champion!
High class Manitoba thoroughbred family resulted in Santa Anita Derby-G1 winner by Bob In 1992 local legendary trainer, the late Don Gray, described 3-year-old Body Works as the best filly he had ever trained. That’s about as high praise as you can get around...
Pleasant Closing outgames Gotatigerbythetail to win Wheat City, Balooga Bull fourth
Balooga Bull uncharacteristically lacks response after half mile in 48 by George Pleasant Closing dug deep in the drive to defeat Gotatigerbythetail by a neck in the $30,000 Wheat City at ASD on Saturday night, while favoured Balooga Bull faded to fourth....
Golden Stripe, Balooga Bull ready for upcoming stakes
Golden Stripe seeks repeat in Canada Day, Balooga Bull heading for Wheat City by Rob I don’t think Balooga Bull is the same horse. Actually it’s confirmed that he’s not the same horse, but he keeps winning regardless. Golden Stripe is not the same mare either,...