Major Enterprise

Assiniboia Downs: Eight Decades and Counting

Assiniboia Downs: Eight Decades and Counting

by Bob Gates "And Now for Something Completely Different" was a catchphrase from the British television comedy series Monty Python's Flying Circus, and it just happens to be perfect for this week's blog. This isn't your typical history story, at least it's not what...

Horses made jockey Jimmy Anderson whole

Horses made jockey Jimmy Anderson whole

by Bob Gates When Sir Winston Churchill said that "there's something about the outside of a horse that's good for the inside of a man" it was like he knew Jimmy Anderson. James E. Anderson was the son of track veterinarian Dr. Norm and Mrs. Peggy Anderson.  Jim and...

15 Minutes with Clayton Gray, The Man from Dominion City

15 Minutes with Clayton Gray, The Man from Dominion City

by Bob Gates What can I say?  Those of you who know Clayton Gray will see the humour in the title of this week's blog story. Let's face it; you are more likely to see pigs fly than have a 15 minute conversation with the Dominion City native. Clayton's wife, Margaret...

Hey Good Lookin’, Attractive or Handsome?

Hey Good Lookin’, Attractive or Handsome?

by Bob Gates Another Manitoba Derby is in the books and congratulations go out to winner Inside Straight and his connections! What a fine looking beast he is! And that got me to thinking about "lookers" from days gone by. Talk about walking into a mine field! With...

The Osiris Stakes – Fabulous 50 and Counting!

  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....

Canada Day, Intercontinent, ASD Record Maker!

  Kives' classy chestnut speedster one of the best ever to race at Downs by Bob This past Monday marked the 37th running of the $30,000 Canada Day Stakes for fillies and mares. Officially it may have been the 37th running, but a quick glance back at the record...