[caption id="attachment_17390" align="alignright" width="1000"] The "Old Man" says goodbye to season #65 at ASD. And remembers 1962.[/caption] by Bob Gates With only three days of "Live" left in 2022 Season, the 65th at ASD, we caught up with the portly old man who can usually be seen sitting on one of the benches closest to…
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“Doc” Elder reflects on the Captain, the Colonel, a Close Encounter and more…
[caption id="attachment_17317" align="alignright" width="2560"] Dr. Norm Elder (right) and Edward Plunket "E.P." Taylor. 1977 Manitoba Derby.[/caption] by Bob Gates Most of us know Dr. Norm Elder as the one-time owner of Elder's Equine Clinic, or for that matter some might think he still owns the clinic. In addition, he's recognized as a member of the…
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Bob Crockett, Owner, Breeder of Thoroughbreds. A 50-Year Adventure.
[caption id="attachment_17090" align="alignright" width="1000"] Dawn Marches On wins the 1982 Debutante Stakes for Hazelridge Holdings and Bob Crockett, second from left of horse.[/caption] by Bob Gates Quiet and unassuming, that's Robert "call-me-Bob" Crockett. And this friends, makes his story challenging to tell. For the purposes of this history blog that means there's less information…
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Eddie Werre Jr. Journeyman Jock From Ashley, North Dakota
[caption id="attachment_16972" align="alignright" width="1000"] Call My Number wins at ASD on July 13, 1977. Ed Werre up for trainer Tom Dodds.[/caption] by Bob Gates Werre? There has to be some of you wondering who Ed Werre is and what's so special about him? This is another one of those blogs where our person of interest…
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Lumberjack Ron: Memories of Secretariat, Northern Dancer and Assiniboia Downs
[caption id="attachment_16872" align="alignright" width="1000"] Ron Turcotte wins the 1970 Manitoba Centennial Derby aboard Fanfreluche.[/caption] by Bob Gates Ron Turcotte was 14 when he left school to work as a lumberjack with his father. He saw his career go from cutting lumber in the bush to construction work and eventually he found his way to E.…
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Balooga Bull: Simply the Best
[caption id="attachment_16726" align="alignright" width="800"] Jockey Paul Nolan and Balooga Bull after winning the 2014 Gold Cup.[/caption] by Bob Gates There's a common thread that links books written to honour champions of the past and our humble blog stories. Both remember special equines from the early days of the Winnipeg racing scene who have long since…
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Anatomy of a Track Record
[caption id="attachment_16689" align="alignright" width="1000"] Rangatira sets new six-furlong track record at ASD. May 20, 1973.[/caption] by Bob Gates Does the title of our blog story this week have a familiar ring to it? Hope so. Most of you are probably too young to remember the 1959 American courtroom drama and crime film "Anatomy of a…
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Secret Weapons and Other 50-year-old Memories of Nice Dancer
[caption id="attachment_16604" align="alignright" width="1000"] 1972 Manitoba Derby winner Nice Dancer and jockey Bobby Stewart.[/caption] by Bob Gates Well another Manitoba Derby is on the books and congratulations go out to the winner Red Knobs and his connections, owner Rob Nokes, trainer Robertino Diodoro and jockey Jorge Carreno. It's fun to look back at the list…
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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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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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