By Bob Gates Every now and again a story idea comes along, and I wonder how it is that I haven’t done it already. I’ve written well over 200 blogs, yet I somehow missed “Michigan,” and that just doesn’t seem right. Michigan Avenue was a stakes-placed gelding who...
by Bob Gates Can you believe that come opening day, Monday May 22, 235 days will have passed since our four-legged athletes were called to the post here at the Downs last September 28. So, who’s ready for some live racing! If your keeping track, 2023 will be season...
by George Champion and 2013 Horse of the Year Zdeno continued his spectacular comeback at Assiniboia Downs Friday night in the 45th running of the $30,000 J. W. Sifton Stakes, and he did it in style. Facing only three rivals after stablemate Jet Again was...
by George Jet Again will be the favourite among those with Manitoba connections in this year's Derby and for good reason. The homebred gelding by top local sire Going Commando moved up multiple class levels while also stretching out for the first time this year in his...
by George Balooga Bull brought his "A" game for the Wheat City Stakes, Jet Again did the same in the Harry Jeffrey Stakes, and Paul Nolan won half of the eight races in front of a large appreciative crowd on Wednesday night at the Downs. Balooga Bull had lost two in a...
by George It wasn't supposed to be this close. Nose the Pose was the overwhelming favourite to win the restricted $30,000 R. C. Anderson Memorial for Manitoba-foaled 3-year-old fillies on Saturday night, but Regal Silver forgot to read the tote board and took the...
by George Nose the Pose shook off early pace pressure after a quarter mile and opened up to win the $25,000 Hazel Wright Sire Stakes by 2 3/4-lengths on a Saturday night at the Downs that also produced the longest priced winner of the meet at $87.70. Nose the Pose...
by George Jet Again continued his well-managed progression towards the $75,000 Manitoba Derby Friday night with an easy victory in the Frank Aranason Sire Stakes, Jennifer Reid scored a hat trick, and young couples came out in droves as the predicted rain got lost...
by George Jockey Janine Smith was in the spotlight again on Saturday night at Assiniboia Downs when she became the first female jockey in history to win the $50,000 Winnipeg Futurity. Quite an accomplishment for the 24-year-old rider from Denman B.C....
by George You could just tell it was going to be a weird night after jockey Jerry Pruitt put the field to sleep with the longest shot on the board in the first race. Polar Breeze got away with fractions of 26.40, 52.40 and managed to hold on to win the 7...