Monthly Archives: July 2014

Harry Gumprich, Springfield cattle rancher, spent quarter century racing horses

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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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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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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