[caption id="attachment_4052" align="alignright" width="270"] Nuts In May. August 11, 1974. Final day of the meet.[/caption] by Bob The horse population wasn't what we had hoped, and as a result we saw shorter fields, but the season still featured some fantastic highlights. On the female side of the ledger Go Go Lolo proved herself to be…
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Balooga Bull becomes first horse in history to win three consecutive Gold Cups at Assiniboia Downs
[caption id="attachment_4035" align="alignright" width="270"] Balooga Bull powers away to win $50,000 Gold Cup Saturday night. Paul Nolan up.[/caption] by George Balooga Bull became the first horse in the history of Assiniboia Downs to win three straight Gold Cups on Saturday night and he did it the hard way, forcing a suicidal pace before powering away…
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Zdeno continues spectacular comeback with stylish win in Sifton
[caption id="attachment_4012" align="alignright" width="270"] Zdeno wins 2014 J.W. Sifton Stakes. Travis Cunningham up[/caption] by George Champion and 2013 Horse of the Year Zdeno continued his spectacular comeback at Assiniboia Downs Friday night in the 45th running of the $30,000 J. W. Sifton Stakes, and he did it in style. Facing only three rivals after…
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The man they call “Hank”
[caption id="attachment_3992" align="alignright" width="270"] Merry's Jay wins Manitoba Derby. August 2, 1976. Ken Hendricks up for trainer Clayton Gray.[/caption] by Bob No one has ridden more winners at Assiniboia Downs than the man they call "Hank". Ken Hendricks sits atop the Downs' leader board with 1,666 trips to the Winner's Circle. A quick scan of…
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“Spud” Murphy and old Joe Geary, a man and his horse, the greatest and purest love
[caption id="attachment_3957" align="alignright" width="270"] Harold "Spud" Murphy[/caption] by Bob It's not likely many will remember the name Harold “Spud” Murphy. Those who do will probably associate it with his horse Brother Leo, who won the Manitoba Derby in 1963, but this week's trip back in time centers around the first horse Spud ever owned, Joe…
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Tempered Sapphire survives foul claim to win $50,000 Matron
[caption id="attachment_3981" align="alignright" width="270"] Tempered Sapphire wins 2014 Matron. Chris Husbands up.[/caption] by George Smiles and cheers were in abundance on Labour Day at the Downs as favourites and second choices won six of the eight races on the card. There wasn't much for longshot hunters, but they certainly came close in the $50,000 Matron…
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$50,000 Matron Stakes looks wide open on Labour Day Monday at Downs
[caption id="attachment_3947" align="alignright" width="270"] Canada Day Stakes winner Go Go Lolo top local threat in $50,000 Matron on Monday.[/caption] by Rob Labour Day Monday at Assiniboia Downs has always been a big day on the Winnipeg racing calendar and this Monday will be no different, with the $50,000 Matron Stakes attracting some star horses. In…
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