by Bob [caption id="attachment_3700" align="alignright" width="270"] Harry and wife Gertrude pose with Derby Belle, 1976 Manitoba Derby. Icy Beau, entrant.[/caption] The Manitoba Derby is coming up Monday, August 4, so how about a trip down memory lane for our annual Derby tale. Local cattleman, Helmuth "Harry" Gumprich will never be famous for his efforts in…
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Saturday night Pick-4 pays $5,363.60 at ASD as favourites go missing
[caption id="attachment_116" align="alignright" width="175"] I predict... an upset![/caption] by George There was a lot of digging in and wearing down going on Saturday night at Assinboia Downs, and when it was all over more than one person walked away with a $2 Pick-4 that paid $5,363.60. Favourites were defeated in every leg. There was a…
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Longshots rule from 4th race on at ASD, create $6,149 Pick-4 carryover into Saturday
[caption id="attachment_3668" align="alignright" width="270"] Dr. Zing (5) zips home to win 7th at ASD on Friday night.[/caption] by George Friday night started slow at ASD, but it certainly picked up speed starting in the fourth race with a combination of longshots, huge Superfecta payoffs and a Pick-4 carryover of $6,149. As a result, the Pick-4…
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Ponies, politicians and a princess — the day the Downs went dark
[caption id="attachment_3658" align="alignright" width="270"] Michael Gobuty, Adrienne Gobuty and Hazel Wright[/caption] by Bob Talk of ponies and a princess evokes thoughts of a fairytale. Insert politicians and it becomes a nightmare. Thirty-two years have passed since one fateful day in July 1982, but it's a blemish on track history is difficult to forget. It was…
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Balooga Bull, Edison, pushed to defeat game rivals in Wheat City, Harry Jeffrey Stakes
[caption id="attachment_3634" align="alignright" width="270"] Balooga Bull gets a pat from jockey Paul Nolan.[/caption] by George Balooga Bull brought his "A" game for the Wheat City Stakes, Jet Again did the same in the Harry Jeffrey Stakes, and Paul Nolan won half of the eight races in front of a large appreciative crowd on Wednesday night…
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Larry Carter’s Elite Mercedes and Monsoon Rain were rare Downs’ Triple Crown winners
[caption id="attachment_3624" align="alignright" width="270"] Elite Mercedes wins Gold Cup. September 24, 2006.[/caption] by Bob The success that owner Larry Carter enjoyed with Elite Mercedes was unprecedented, but two short years later he further established himself as a dominant and influential force in the Downs' stakes schedule with Monsoon "The Machine" Rain. While the Downs has…
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Nose the Pose holds on to win R.C. Anderson after thrilling stretch duel
[caption id="attachment_3610" align="alignright" width="270"] Nose the Pose (5) duels to the wire with Regal Silver (3) in the 2014 R.C. Anderson.[/caption] by George It wasn't supposed to be this close. Nose the Pose was the overwhelming favourite to win the restricted $30,000 R. C. Anderson Memorial for Manitoba-foaled 3-year-old fillies on Saturday night, but Regal…
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Brian Bochinski lived his dream at the track, every day
[caption id="attachment_3588" align="alignright" width="270"] Nephrite sets new track record at ASD with Brian Bochinski up. Oct. 8 1989.[/caption] by Bob Brian Todd Bochinski's riding career started long before his first mount at Assiniboia Downs in 1986. In a way it had been a work in progress for years. It was always his life-long dream to…
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Handicapping is more than just picking winners
by Rob The process of wagering on a horse race in the modern era of gambling is much more complicated than "which horse do I like?" In outdated systems all you had to do was pick a horse. Now it takes a firm understanding of not only picking winners, but also on selecting the best…
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Women who rocked the Powder Puff Derby
[caption id="attachment_3570" align="alignright" width="270"] Eileen Blake, winner of the first Powder Puff Derby at ASD in 1960.[/caption] by Bob I'm guessing the name "Powder Puff" was created by a male of our species. Certainly there aren't many women these days that would come up with such a sexist sounding name for a horse race featuring…
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