Queen's Cup (Jason Halstead) By Track Historian Bob Gates The Manitoba Derby, Winnipeg Futurity, Gold Cup and R. J. Speers combine for more than 300 years of memorable races. This week our story is about the hardware that’s up for grabs, and not so much the history of...
H. Bruce Boreham, Downs Director of Public Relations. (Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame) By Track Historian Bob Gates On June 1, 1959 Assiniboia Downs General Manager, A. G. “Scotty” Kennedy announced that the Downs had appointed its first Director of Public Relations....
Winnipeg Futurity Announcement - Manitoba Free Press, March 19, 1928. by Track Historian Bob Gates As the end of June isn’t far off, we can look forward to seeing the “babies” (two-year-olds) make their way to the races. The stakes races for the youngsters include the...
Mike in the paddock with Souvenir Zone in September 2009. (Bob Gates photo) By Track Historian Bob Gates The news came via social media: Mike Olito had passed away on April 25th. As the date for his celebration of life on May 19th approached, I found myself thinking...
By Track Historian Bob Gates When you walk through the main entrance at the Downs and make your way to the Guest Services area, don’t be surprised if you start to feel a tad nostalgic. Cue Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone music—for you have just entered the “history zone.”...
Jockey Ciera Pruitt (#9) scores her first lifetime win aboard longshot Mineral Rights ($41.60) in the seventh race on Tuesday for trainer Jason Homer, triggering a huge Pick 4 payoff. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia photo) By G.S. Thompson Two huge Pick 4 pools and a...
Island Fling in 1979 with the original Gold Cup trophy By Bob Gates Nothing draws more attention than a good mystery. The mere mention of Loch Ness, Stonehenge, Bigfoot, Amelia Earhart or the Bermuda Triangle will captivate any audience. Our focus on the local horse...
Victory Gift, September 4, 1948 By Bob Gates Victory Gift: Three Generations of Success Over the years Assiniboia Downs has been blessed with some of the finest fillies and mares in horseracing. We thought we had seen the best of the best with likes of: Miss Missile...
By Track Historian Bob Gates Every once in a while a horse comes along with a unique combination of qualities that separates him from the rest. Lloyd Gray & sons’ Rangatira was a racehorse that ticked all the boxes. He was a gelded son of 1955 Horse of the Year...
by Track Historian Bob Gates It’s Pop Quiz time. Who remembers the Inaugural Handicap, the horses, riders and trainers? Well buckle-up friends, you’re about to partake in a whirlwind tour as we look back at the history of the race most knew simply as “The...