Monthly Archives: July 2022

The History of the Manitoba Derby in Photos

[caption id="attachment_16501" align="alignright" width="1735"] Royal Frolic with Larry Bird up after winning the 45th running of the Manitoba Derby. August 2, 1993.[/caption] by Bob Gates A few weeks ago we tried something different. The traditional blog story was replaced by an array of photos complete with captions and it turns out, you liked it! With…
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Beginnings, Endings and Thank You

[caption id="attachment_16378" align="alignright" width="1000"] Bobby Stewart Tribute Gallery.[/caption] by Bob Gates Who's kidding who, you're being short-changed this time around. Our weekly history blog isn't about a historical horse racing figure or event. That's right, no person, horse or anything else was researched for today's tale. However, in an effort to pacify my editor I've…
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Light Dust: Champion of the Prairie Racing Circuit and Proudly a Manitoba-Bred

[caption id="attachment_16234" align="alignright" width="1000"] Light Dust becomes the only horse to win the Western Canada Handicap three times. Edmonton Journal. June 24, 1957.[/caption] by Bob Gates Last winter, during a covid-induced research binge, the name Light Dust jumped off the pages of the defunct Winnipeg Tribune. The headline read, "That's all for Light Dust." This…
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The Kid from Bellavista Crescent who Dared to Dream

[caption id="attachment_16078" align="alignright" width="1000"] May 28, 2010. Darren Dunn calls race #15,000 from the Winner's Circle.[/caption] by Bob Gates In a 1989 interview Darren Dunn told Paul Turney of the Daily Racing Form (DRF) that he was 11 years old when he heard his first race. "It was an exciting confrontation between Northern Diamond and…
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