[caption id="attachment_4248" align="alignright" width="270"] Glen Ball with Taboga[/caption] by Bob Originally from Edmonton, GB came to Winnipeg with his family when he was a youngster. Glen always loved to be around horses and got his start with show horses. Horses were his passion, but he made his living as a "car guy." GB operated a…
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The day that shaped the face of Assiniboia Downs, September 25, 1957
[caption id="attachment_4237" align="alignright" width="270"] R. J. Speers and Scotty Kennedy. 1948 Canadian Derby.[/caption] by Bob If it is possible to single out a date that marked the "birth" of Assiniboia Downs, Wednesday September 25, 1957 would be that day. On that historic Wednesday Jack Hardy, President of James Enterprises Ltd. announced the appointment of Alexander…
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Bobby Q, The Horse that Jack Built
[caption id="attachment_4222" align="alignright" width="270"] Bobby Q defeats Hub Cap in the 1984 R. J. Speers Memorial.[/caption] by Bob This week's image in our historical rear view mirror belongs to Bobby Q and veteran horseman Jack Robertson from Amaranth, Manitoba. Bobby Q first popped up on the radar screen with his performance in the 10th running…
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Mellow moments and memories of Albert and Eileen Blake
[caption id="attachment_4202" align="alignright" width="270"] Albert and Eileen Blake's wedding photo. Dec. 2, 1957.[/caption] by Bob This past Sunday I woke up early, very early, and poured myself a coffee. I retreated to our deck to enjoy the morning sunrise. The only other living creatures awake at that time were a few chirping song birds. The…
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Birthdays, Birthdays, Birthdays! Wife, daughter, cat and the other woman!
[caption id="attachment_4164" align="alignright" width="270"] Bobby Stewart scores 1st win of career aboard Royal Ghost. 1960.[/caption] by Bob The month of June has special significance for me. Four of the most important women in my life celebrate birthdays in the month of "leaves and roses," my wife, Kathy, our daughter, Deena, the cat, Kopy Kat and…
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Remembering Jim Sorenson, record-setting mystery man
[caption id="attachment_4149" align="alignright" width="270"] Minnesota's Jim Sorensen. ASD record-setter.[/caption] by Bob It's been almost 40 years since 22-year-old Jimmy Sorenson lit up the tote board under a star-lit sky at Assiniboia Downs. Patrons in attendance on the evening of Wednesday, June 23, 1976 will not soon forget the riding exhibition put on by the young…
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Raymond Stewart, The Pride of Gladstone — Reflections on a Life Well-Lived!
[caption id="attachment_4131" align="alignright" width="270"] Ray Stewart in Calgary. 1950.[/caption] by Bob It's been more than 75 years since Ray Stewart scored his first win as a jockey on the old western prairie circuit. I recently had an opportunity to sit down with the 93-year-old Stewart and reminisce about his horse racing past at his home…
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Dude, Where’s My Car? At Assiniboia Downs!
[caption id="attachment_4114" align="alignright" width="270"] "Dude, where's my car?"[/caption] by Bob Ashton Kucher's 2000 comedy film was set in the '60s when he "lost" his car in the Downs' parking lot? Uhm… No! But, in the early days of Assiniboia Downs there were always large crowds and that meant cars, hundreds of cars, and a parking…
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Racing Through Time at Assiniboia Downs – The Display
[caption id="attachment_4103" align="alignright" width="270"] Racing Through Time[/caption] by Bob If you haven't already noticed, Assiniboia Downs has gone to great lengths to make available to its patrons a historical display that commemorates more than a century of horse racing in Winnipeg. The display's name "Racing Through Time." Located just inside the front doors to the…
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ASD Opening Day 2015! How about a little history!
[caption id="attachment_4082" align="alignright" width="270"] Balancing Dancer wins on opening day May 3, 1985. Jacques Desautels up.[/caption] by Bob Season #58 is upon us and our majestic four-legged friends go to post this Sunday, May 10th at 1:30. It's Mother's Day of course, and as has become a tradition, the Downs kicks off the 2015 race…
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