Yearly Archives: 2014

Enjoy Breeders’ Cup 2014 at Assiniboia Downs!

This year’s Breeders’ Cup will be held at Santa Anita on Friday, October 31 & Saturday, November 1. And of course we'll have all the action live via simulcast at the Downs! POST TIMES Friday, October 31 – First race post time: 1:25 p.m. (Central Time). The last race is 7:10 p.m. Saturday, November 1…
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Curtain drops on live “Season of Promise”

[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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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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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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Four claims on Wednesday night a positive sign for racing industry

[caption id="attachment_3928" align="alignright" width="270"] Wouf de Douf gets a pat from owner Bob Nokes after winning 7th race on Wednesday.[/caption] by George If you needed an indication of where live racing at Assiniboia Downs was headed, Wednesday night offered some clues. People don't invest money in this game unless they think there's a future, and…
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Gone but not forgotten, two promising apprentices from 1967

[caption id="attachment_3910" align="alignright" width="270"] Bobbie Dimma aboard Norway House. June 29, 1968.[/caption] by Bob This week we remember two promising young apprentices who got their start at Assiniboia Downs in the 1960s, Bobbie Dimma and Vernon Sayler. Most of us are familiar with "Bobbie". Yes, that's how his name appeared on his birth certificate, Bobbie…
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