by Bob Gates "And Now for Something Completely Different" was a catchphrase from the British television comedy series Monty Python's Flying Circus, and it just happens to be perfect for this week's blog. This isn't your typical history story, at least it's not what you've grown accustomed to. What we have this week is an…
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About: TheBigHorse
Recent Posts by TheBigHorse
Downs Honors Contributions of Manitoba Duo with Hall of Fame Nominations
[caption id="attachment_15541" align="alignright" width="1000"] Late MJC Chairman Harvey Warner in one of his favourite places at Assiniboia Downs. (Winnipeg Free Press photo)[/caption] by Bob Gates R. James Speers and "Bobby" Summers are getting awful lonely over at 145 Pacific Avenue, home of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame (MSHOF). This past March, Assiniboia Downs took…
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M&M’s: Sweet Treats for the Soul
[caption id="attachment_15472" align="alignright" width="1000"] Coherence. August 29, 1959. Trainer Gary Danelson's first win.[/caption] by Bob Gates Well, now that we have a couple of days of racing under our belt, let's celebrate with some M&M's. Nope, not the multi-coloured, button-shaped chocolates which are the flagship product of Mars, Incorporated. We're talking about milestones and memories…
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A Toast: To the Dearly Departed and Season #65!
[caption id="attachment_15213" align="alignright" width="1000"] Season #65 at ASD kicks off on May 31 at 7:30 p.m.[/caption] by Bob Gates How about a game of "Jeopardy," Assiniboia Downs style? Answer: September 16, 2021, to May 30, 2022. Question: What is the "off season" for the 2021 - 2022 Downs race meets? In case you're wondering that's…
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Assiniboia Downs Kicks Off Season #63 of Live Racing
Milestones & Memories Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the 1970 Manitoba Centennial Derby by Bob Gates Welcome to the new "normal" as the Downs makes the final preparations to open for its inaugural "No Fans In The Stands" 2020 race meet. We have all lived the events of this spring and heaven knows they…
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Historic Winnipeg Futurity highlights final weekend of “Live” racing at ASD
by Bob Gates This year's Winnipeg Futurity marks the 90th running of the prestigious race for 2-year-olds, which makes it the oldest continuously run race in western Canada. Yeah, I know, you'll hear a lot about the recent Canadian Derby's 90th running, but those numbers include the first 11 years of the Manitoba Derby. Fact…
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Sifton Memorial Celebrates 50th Running
[caption id="attachment_10715" align="alignright" width="1024"] Patricia Too wins John W Sifton Memorial Stakes. July 20, 1975.[/caption] by Bob Gates Where does the time go? June 10, 2019 marked the 50th anniversary of the death of John Wright Sifton. The upcoming running of the J. W. Sifton Memorial on September 7 honours Mr. Sifton’s memory and it will…
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Jockey Joan Phipps: Saskatoon Sweetheart and Downs Darling
[caption id="attachment_10656" align="alignright" width="1000"] Joan Phipps. First win at Assiniboia Downs. Thistle Dawn. July 7, 1972[/caption] by Bob Gates Life in Saskatoon grew to be a bore and at times even a nightmare for young Joan Phipps. School work couldn’t hold a candle to competing in the Saskatoon-Regina-Prince Albert light horse show circuit where she…
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“Wacing’s” Weird & Wacky
by Bob Gates Not even Looney Tunes with its wascally wabbit has anything on thoroughbred horse racing when it comes to the zany and unusual. From the annals of Winnipeg turf lore, few stories rival the wondrous happenings at Assiniboia Downs or at Jimmy Speers' old haunt, Polo Park racetrack. Polo Park was the scene…
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The Clare’s family horse operation was built on passion
[caption id="attachment_10563" align="alignright" width="1000"] Marge and Vic Clare with one of their many winners together, Cognitive Unit.[/caption] by Bob Gates Marge and Victor Clare ran one of those typical "Mom & Pop" stables. Their story is a good one, except for the part that it took me seven years to get it done. Marge and…
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