Carl Anderson

Remembering Dick Armstrong and His Family’s Home Away From Home

Remembering Dick Armstrong and His Family’s Home Away From Home

by Bob Gates Let's celebrate a Diamond Jubilee, shall we? This year marks the 60th anniversary of jockey George Richard "Dickie" Armstrong's first leading-rider title (1962) at Assiniboia Downs. The Maple Creek, Saskatchewan native would go on to top the Downs...

Carl Norman Anderson. Old School Professional Horseman. 

Carl Norman Anderson. Old School Professional Horseman. 

by Bob Gates Carl Anderson was only 13 years old when Assiniboia Downs opened in 1958, but it didn't take him long to find his way to the Portage Avenue track. Right from the "get-go" young Carl had a fondness for horses and his boyhood home was just northeast of the...

Mays Relic: Classy chestnut. Forever savoured.

Mays Relic: Classy chestnut. Forever savoured.

by Bob Gates Mays Relic came to Jack and Yvette Hardy's J. Y. Stable as a 5-year-old gelding by Bandit out of Georgia May, by War Relic. By the way, War Relic just happened to be the son of Man O' War. Their trainer, George Howell claimed the chestnut in January 1966...

Rupert “Chicago” Parker liked hats and a good cigar

Rupert “Chicago” Parker liked hats and a good cigar

by Bob Gates Some and perhaps most of you will consider this week's blog story choice a little obscure. Others will look at the title and wonder, Rupert who? Rupert Parker was a jockey who plied his trade at Assiniboia Downs from the mid 1960s to the mid to late...

Four claims on Wednesday night a positive sign for racing industry

Four claims on Wednesday night a positive sign for racing industry

by George If you needed an indication of where live racing at Assiniboia Downs was headed, Wednesday night offered some clues. People don't invest money in this game unless they think there's a future, and they stepped up on Wednesday evening with four claims. In the...

Max Freed Plays “Let’s Make a Deal” with Monty Hall

Max Freed Plays “Let’s Make a Deal” with Monty Hall

by Bob Before telling you about this Manitoba racing icon's deal with TV game show host Monty Hall, let me give you some background on one of the greatest and well-known local horseman, Max Freed. Max was born to David and Tilley Freed on February 22, 1912 in...

Shocker in the Sun: Revenge of the Dirt Eaters

by George Williams They double-teamed her early and they double-teamed her late. In the end it was the dirt eaters who got the all the money. Witch’s Coven and City Splash rose to the occasion at monster odds for trainer Carl Anderson and came pounding home late to...

Lucky Number 3 Pays Off in Pick-4

by George If you’re a numbers player AND your lucky number is 3, you probably did alright on the Pick-4 Wednesday night. If not, you can always take another shot at the pool on Friday. It’s usually in the $5,000 range. Just use a different set of lucky numbers....