[caption id="attachment_439" align="alignright" width="300" caption="The Phenom with trainer Wade Rarick"][/caption] by Rob Friday’s first marks the beginning of two turn races at ASD in 2012, and the 5-horse affair going 7 ½-furlongs for $2,500 claimers appears to be wide open. Meshuguna on the rail was competitive in the route championship series at Portland Meadows this…
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Polo Park, “America’s finest racing plant”
[caption id="attachment_424" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Victory Gift in the Polo Park Winner's Circle"][/caption] by Bob Polo Park, the “father” in our family tree analogy, was a 6 furlong oval that opened on June 12, 1925. R. James Speers was given credit for building Polo Park, but he was not the driving force behind the idea to…
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Balooga Bull Delivers Under Pressure to Stay Undefeated on Victoria Day, New Jock Simpson Impresses
by George Reigning Horse of the Year Balooga Bull delivered when it counted on Victoria Day at ASD to keep his perfect record intact, and in the process helped jockey Paul Nolan score a hat trick. Secondarily impressive on the card was 5-time Jamaican jockey champion Trevor Simpson, who scored his first win of what…
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Reeves Jr. and Nolan continue jockey battle at ASD on Victoria Day, Balooga Bull makes 3-year-old debut
[caption id="attachment_397" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Jockey Robert Reeves Jr. & agent Tim Gardiner"][/caption] by George Robert Reeves Jr. and Paul Nolan continue their battle atop the jockey standings today at Assiniboia Downs on Victoria Day Monday and 2011 Horse of the Year Balooga Bull makes his 3-year-old debut in the third race against five rivals. First…
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Bet the Gray Horses in the Mud
[caption id="attachment_384" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Big smile from Tyler Hansen hides Lucky Bites."][/caption] by George “Bet the longest shot on the board in a 5-horse field and bet the gray horses in the mud.” Things that grandfather used to say, that only seemed to come true after you’d brushed them off loudly as old wives tales…
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Bodemeister the pick in 137th Preakness, One longshot for logical live card
by Rob [caption id="attachment_370" align="alignright" width="298" caption="137th Preakness goes Saturday!"][/caption] Baltimore, Maryland -- home of the Orioles, the Ravens and Pimlico Race Course. Pimlico is a tight track with a long stretch and a history as rich as any track in the country. Seabiscuit put away War Admiral on this very track, Secretariat ran the…
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Insider Newsletter Preview: Slurpy and Snickers?
[caption id="attachment_355" align="alignright" width="182" caption="Slurpy and Snickers?"][/caption] by George Have you read the May 17, 2012 issue of the Insider Newsletter yet? Here’s the short version: I’ll Have Another takes on 10 rivals in the 137th running of the Preakness Stakes this Saturday. If he wins he has a shot at being the first Triple…
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Memories of Whittier Park, Grandfather of Assiniboia Downs
[caption id="attachment_331" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Whittier Park Program"][/caption] by Bob If horse racing were going to flourish in Winnipeg it was clear that River Park would not be the answer. A new track had to be built. The idea for Whittier Park was hatched in 1923 by R. James Speers, construction began the same year, and…
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Mother’s Day payoffs big at ASD but She’s Copacetic wins filly feature as favorite
by George Call Me Misty probably left a few chalk players rubbing their eyes after the first race on Mother’s Day at ASD when she wired the field and paid $24.20 for a $2 bet, but the big payoffs sliced through the wind and under the sun all day in front of a large and…
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Mother’s Day at ASD features fast fillies, prize draws for Mom
by George Happy Mother’s Day! It’s supposed to be warm and sunny (just like Mom!) and it should be a gorgeous day at the track. We’re used to ASD opening on Mother’s Day, but it just happened to fall within the second weekend of live racing this year. Fine with us! Warmer weather! [youtube] http://youtu.be/N1yzUMenGTc…
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