Victor’s Pride

Walter Brian Hutcheon – The Legend that is “Hutch”

Walter Brian Hutcheon – The Legend that is “Hutch”

by Bob Gates "Long time horseman, Walter Brian Hutcheon, better known as “Hutch” at Assiniboia Downs, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Winnipeg on September 2, 2001. He was 59." ~ George Williams, Manitoba Thoroughbred Magazine 2002 For those of you...

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...

Irwin Driedger, the Jock with the Golden Locks

Irwin Driedger, the Jock with the Golden Locks

by Bob Clifford "Shorty" Gray hired 11-year-old Irwin Driedger as an exercise rider. The young blonde schoolboy from Russell, Manitoba tipped the scales at 78 pounds and got his first win on a race track at the Neepawa Fair Grounds on horse named Admiral Zenith. Who...

Tough Manitoba-bred Victor’s Pride made no apologies

by Bob Have you ever noticed that when the subject of Manitoba breds comes up, it almost sounds like you find yourself having to apologize for the breed? To varying degrees, many of us have done that, but when you think about it, there have been some very good...