Island Fling in 1979 with the original Gold Cup trophy
By Bob Gates
Nothing draws more attention than a good mystery. The mere mention of Loch Ness, Stonehenge, Bigfoot, Amelia Earhart or the Bermuda Triangle will captivate any audience. Our focus on the local horse racing front concerns the whereabouts of the Gold Cup and Manitoba Derby trophies.
Our missing trophies would be a subject worthy of the 1980s documentary television series Unsolved Mysteries hosted by Mr. Eliot Ness himself, Robert Stack.
For those of you expecting a happy ending to our story, you’re going to be disappointed, because we don’t have one. So here is the information as it is believed to be and maybe, just maybe, someone somewhere will have a lead to help unravel the mystery surrounding the trophies that have vanished.
Scarlet Rich and Nick Block with original Gold Cup Trophy
Let’s start with the Gold Cup. In 1958, the Downs first year of operation, Jack Hardy wanted a race that would attract the best horses for an annual contest that would become a classic. The first Gold Cup was run on September 24, 1958 and was won by Dr. Pat. The original Gold Cup trophy was presented from 1958 to 1979. The black and white photo from 1979 features Scarlet Rich and Nick Block and is one of the best you’re likely to see of this trophy.
The engraving on the Cup reads:
Assiniboia Downs
Gold Cup
Inaugurated 1958
For 3 year olds and up
The following year the race was won by Major Enterprise and a different trophy is presented. It is the same trophy that we have today. Why was a new trophy used? What happened to the original?
Major Enterprise 1980 Gold Cup
Next up is the Manitoba Derby trophy. First of all, you can all relax, the Queen’s Cup is safe and was presented this year as usual. We’re talking about the Manitoba Derby trophy of 1934. It is no coincidence that the term Manitoba Derby was first used in 1934. Previously the race had been called the Manitoba Stakes.
Manitoba Derby Trophy 1884 – 1934
Through the years there have been plenty of photos featuring the magnificent 1934 trophy. The Cup was associated with the Manitoba Derby from 1934 to 1940. Then, from 1941 to 1956 when the Manitoba Derby was mothballed, it was better known as the Derby Trophy emblematic of the champion of the Canadian Derby. This classic trophy disappeared when the Canadian Derby moved to Edmonton following the closure of old Polo Park in 1956.
A search of Alberta newspapers in those early years came up dry. There was no sign of the 1934 Derby Trophy that served Manitoba so well until 1956. Many have pointed the finger of blame at the good folks of Edmonton, but frankly it doesn’t look like the trophy ever went west. Given it’s history to local horse racing, why would Edmonton want a Manitoba-themed trophy for a race that was destined to remain in the oil province?
Canadian Derby Field 1955
So the question remains, what happened to the Manitoba Derby Cup? Someone’s basement, a landfill, a personal collection, or perhaps just gathering years of dust in some obscure hiding place? Who knows, and we’ve pretty much ruled out the idea of putting photos of the missing trophies on milk cartons.
I guess there’s always professionals we can call upon. Where are Crocket & Tubbs, Starsky & Hutch, Cagney & Lacey, Mulder & Scully, or the Baker Street boys, Sherlock & Watson when you need them?
But we could sure use some help, so please consider this as the history blog’s formal “BOLO.”