Blog

Trainer Brian Phillips Pulls 39-1 Upset, Triggers Lucrative Pick 3 Payoffs, Khelawan, Knights Score Hat Tricks
Nu Soup for Baby (#2 inside) and jockey Kerron Khelawan on their way to a 39-1 upset in the third race on Wednesday for trainer Brian Phillips. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) Former Hastings Park trainer Brian Phillips pulled off a major upset this week with a...
Racing Through Time. History Cases: The 2026 Edition
Assiniboia Downs History Case (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) By Track Historian Bob Gates The “Racing Through Time” display in the front lobby has a fresh look to it for the 2026 racing season. Have you noticed? You know the area we’re talking about, just inside...
Ciera Pruitt Scores a Double, Maybin Wins With a Good One, Gourneau Opens up in Standings
Jockey Ciera Pruitt (outside) gets up just in time to win the 6th race on Wednesday for her mom, trainer Lise Pruitt, aboard longshot Bromeo. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) Apprentice jockey Ciera Pruitt won her first two races of the meeting, former Hastings...
Five Days in May
Jack Robertson Celebration of Life, May 27, 2026 (Robertson Family) By Track Historian Bob Gates Some of you might recognize our title as a 1993 song by Blue Rodeo. Songwriter Jim Cuddy used the lyrics to describe the “familiar, timeless feeling of a deep connection...
First Stakes of 2026 Feature Two Big Upsets, Line Dancing a Hit on First Western Wednesday
Groom Charlotte Stevens leads Bergheim out of the winner’s circle after his victory in the $50,000 Beau Blade Stakes on Tuesday for trainer Jerry Gourneau. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) By G.S. Thompson The first stakes races of the 2026 season at ASD got...
Omaha Warrior: The Fountain of Youth
Danelson's Omaha Warrior is HBPA's Top 2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding for 2025 (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) By Track Historian Bob Gates You might wonder why a three-year-old gelding with four career starts somehow rates a historical blog story, and that’s a fair...
Jason Homer Showcases Exceptional Talent, Prime Suspect Romps Again
,First-time starter Acquire and Shavon Townsend win the sixth race on Wednesday for trainer Jason Homer, giving Homer a 1-2-3 finish in the race. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) By G.S. Thompson Most people consider trainer stats and percentages when they’re...
Honouring the Master of K5 Stables and the Race that Bears His Name
Some of the K5 awards on display at the K-Tel head office trophy case 2013 (Bob Gates photo) By Track Historian Bob Gates It’s hard to believe that K5’s Philip Kives has been gone for ten years. The memory of April 27, 2016, remains strong. In the late afternoon,...
Gourneau Soars to Lead in Trainer Standings, Wins Five of Six Races on Wednesday
Leading trainer Jerry Gourneau was all smiles after scoring a natural hat trick in the first three races on Wednesday. He went on to win five of the six races on the card. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) By G.S. Thompson Trainer Jerry Gourneau served notice on...
The Pilgrimage
Dick Armstrong, September 28, 1940 – November 16, 2009 (Gerry Hart photo) By Track Historian Bob Gates Five, four, three, two, one, and they’re off! On May 12, 2026, Assiniboia Downs launched season #69 and once again my universe was back in sync. It was a cool spring...

