Monthly Archives: September 2013

A Total Eclipse of the (Gerry) Hart? No.

  [caption id="attachment_2975" align="alignright" width="270" caption="The Winning Shot at ASD. Since 1968. Track Photographer Gerry Hart."][/caption] by Bob Track photographer Gerry Hart retiring? No, but while this may not be Gerry’s final season at the Downs, it will probably be the last year that he operates on his own. Maybe we should think of his…
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Balooga Bull wins second consecutive Assiniboia Downs Gold Cup, silences critics

  [caption id="attachment_2931" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Balooga Bull roars home to win 2013 Assiniboia Downs Gold Cup."][/caption] by George Paul Brandt’s Balooga Bull silenced all naysayers with his second consecutive victory in the $50,000 Assiniboia Downs Gold Cup on Saturday night, becoming only the sixth horse in 56 years to win the prestigious race in back-to-back…
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Uene, Solid Gold in 88

  [caption id="attachment_2896" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Uene wins Assiniboia Downs Gold Cup, Sept. 4, 1988."][/caption] by Bob Uene was one of those special horses that left his hoofprints on the heart of Assiniboia Downs even though he only raced at our local oval for two short seasons. How does something like that happen? First of all,…
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Janine Smith first female jockey to win $50,000 Winnipeg Futurity in 84 years

[caption id="attachment_2880" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Janine Smith and Zdeno after winning the 2013 Winnipeg Futurity."][/caption]   by George Jockey Janine Smith was in the spotlight again on Saturday night at Assiniboia Downs when she became the first female jockey in history to win the $50,000 Winnipeg Futurity. Quite an accomplishment for the 24-year-old rider from Denman…
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Nolan moves to 6-win lead in jockey standings, Smith makes Pick-4 pay big

  [caption id="attachment_2858" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Janine Smith. All smiles after winning with Prairie Eclipse Friday night."][/caption] by George Paul Nolan scored a hat trick with wins in the first, second and sixth races on Friday night at the Downs, Adrian Ramos won a pair and Janine Smith booted home Prairie Eclipse in the seventh to…
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Psst, Hey Mister, Wanna Buy a Horse?

  by Bob [caption id="attachment_14940" align="alignright" width="270"] Omar's Gift wins 1942 Winnipeg Futurity at Polo Park.[/caption] The story of Omar’s Gift is the stuff that legends are made of! There was a time when most everyone knew the story of Omar’s Gift, but not so much any more, and as your historian, that’s where I…
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Bull bounces back; local owners get 1st & 2nd in Matron

By Ivan Bigg for George (on holidays) The Bull is back to his old winning self. [caption id="attachment_2811" align="alignright" width="470" caption="Balooga Bull is back!"][/caption] Balooga Bull, Horse of the Year at 2- and 3-years-old, showed on Friday that his talent is still intact at 4 despite an uncharacteristic fourth-place finish in his previous race, the…
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