by Bob Gates For as long as most of us can remember, the first Saturday in May is reserved for the Kentucky Derby, but not this year. The "Run for the Roses" was rescheduled to the fall because of COVID-19. You just knew NBC wasn't going to let an opportunity like...
by Bob Gates This week we put the finishing touches on Season #59 at Assiniboia Downs with a weekend featuring five stake races. The Winnipeg Futurity and Matron kick things off on Friday. Saturday night sees the Sifton and Gold Cup, and the season wraps up with the...
by Bob The success that owner Larry Carter enjoyed with Elite Mercedes was unprecedented, but two short years later he further established himself as a dominant and influential force in the Downs' stakes schedule with Monsoon "The Machine" Rain. While the Downs has...
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...
Jockeys Paul Nolan, Chris Husbands and Trevor Simpson stole the show on Saturday night at the Downs with a pair of hat tricks and a double-ender that shut out all other riders. Veteran trainer Gary Danelson also reminded us once again that we should never leave...
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...
by Bob This Sunday’s running of the Free Press Stakes will be the 52nd edition of the race. The Winnipeg Free Press trophy has a long and storied association with the Downs, beginning with Fremarcton winning the inaugural running of the race in 1960. From 1960 to 1981...
by George Pierre Lapin came rolling home under Trevor Simpson to win the featured third race Wednesday at ASD on an evening when the betting pools were large and lucrative and two horses were claimed out of the same race for $15,000. Each. Claims over $10,000 are rare...