[caption id="attachment_6951" align="alignnone" width="780"] Clayton Gray's first win as trainer. Tedders. July 25, 1964.[/caption] by Bob Gates What can I say? Those of you who know Clayton Gray will see the humour in the title of this week's blog story. Let's face it; you are more likely to see pigs fly than have a 15…
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Already Dia, Alberta invader with talent to burn
by Bob Gates You hear glowing accolades about certain thoroughbreds all the time around the race track. You know, the usual and arguably over-used descriptors like "the peoples' horse", "champion" and the like. I do it here in my blog stories all the time, but the truth is sometimes it can't be helped. Every once…
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Assiniboia Downs celebrates Diamond Jubilee as dark, mysterious stranger lurks
by Bob Gates Have you seen him? His slicked-back black-as-night hair high atop the 60-year-old Assiniboia Downs grandstand. For the last couple of months his signature morning screams have echoed throughout the grounds as the Downs prepares to kick off Season 60. For those who aren't sure who or what I'm talking about, I'm…
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That’s a wrap! Season #59 at ASD draws to a close
[caption id="attachment_6304" align="alignright" width="780"] Mustard family celebrates a win on the latest date for the Downs ever to race on November 11, 1991.[/caption] by Bob Gates This week we put the finishing touches on Season #59 at Assiniboia Downs with a weekend featuring five stake races. The Winnipeg Futurity and Matron kick things off on…
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Good-bye Garylle Stewart. April 21, 1940 – August 1, 2016
by Bob Gates The August 1, 2016 Manitoba Derby will be one I never forget, and forever remember, as bittersweet. The inclement weather created a dream track if you were a mudder, but it was a less than ideal day for the Manitoba Jockey Club, which was hoping to draw a record crowd. In the…
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The Curious Case of Just Cost, Grand Little Gelding or Racing’s Bad Boy?
by Bob Gates To coin a phrase from Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, "Let's put the case." The case, that is, of Just Cost, a thoroughbred runner from the dirty thirties. Today you are not only readers; you are also the jurists in the case of The People vs Just Cost. Men and women of…
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Remembering Cosmic Tip and his 1966 R. J. Speers Memorial Handicap
by Bob Gates Who knew? This year's running of the R. J. Speers on August 17 marks the 50th anniversary of Gary Danelson and Cosmic Tip's win in the Speers in 1966. There may be a few veterans that recall the name Cosmic Tip, but even they probably aren't familiar with the background of one…
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Fun-Loving, Dimpled, Good Guy, Mikey
[caption id="attachment_6111" align="alignright" width="780"] Early days at ASD. Mike aboard Folie A Deux for trainer Gary Danelson on a muddy May 23, 1981.[/caption] by Bob Gates Mike Rowland rode at Assiniboia Downs from 1981 to 1984, chalking up 455 wins. While his time here was limited to four years, the young man from Saratoga Springs,…
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Hey Good Lookin’, Attractive or Handsome?
[caption id="attachment_6055" align="alignright" width="780"] Major Enterprise retires. Ken Hendricks up[/caption] by Bob Gates Another Manitoba Derby is in the books and congratulations go out to winner Inside Straight and his connections! What a fine looking beast he is! And that got me to thinking about "lookers" from days gone by. Talk about walking into a…
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Bimbo the Pony, Legend and Legacy
[caption id="attachment_6005" align="alignright" width="780"] Bimbo the Pony with Allan Gray.[/caption] by Bob Gates All of you who remember or who have ever heard of a horse named "Bimbo" please raise your hands. I don't see many arms in the air. That's not unexpected. Until I found an old obscure newspaper article from the now defunct…
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