[caption id="attachment_4052" align="alignright" width="270"] Nuts In May. August 11, 1974. Final day of the meet.[/caption] by Bob The horse population wasn't what we had hoped, and as a result we saw shorter fields, but the season still featured some fantastic highlights. On the female side of the ledger Go Go Lolo proved herself to be…
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The man they call “Hank”
[caption id="attachment_3992" align="alignright" width="270"] Merry's Jay wins Manitoba Derby. August 2, 1976. Ken Hendricks up for trainer Clayton Gray.[/caption] by Bob No one has ridden more winners at Assiniboia Downs than the man they call "Hank". Ken Hendricks sits atop the Downs' leader board with 1,666 trips to the Winner's Circle. A quick scan of…
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“Spud” Murphy and old Joe Geary, a man and his horse, the greatest and purest love
[caption id="attachment_3957" align="alignright" width="270"] Harold "Spud" Murphy[/caption] by Bob It's not likely many will remember the name Harold “Spud” Murphy. Those who do will probably associate it with his horse Brother Leo, who won the Manitoba Derby in 1963, but this week's trip back in time centers around the first horse Spud ever owned, Joe…
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Gone but not forgotten, two promising apprentices from 1967
[caption id="attachment_3910" align="alignright" width="270"] Bobbie Dimma aboard Norway House. June 29, 1968.[/caption] by Bob This week we remember two promising young apprentices who got their start at Assiniboia Downs in the 1960s, Bobbie Dimma and Vernon Sayler. Most of us are familiar with "Bobbie". Yes, that's how his name appeared on his birth certificate, Bobbie…
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George Howell, son of a blacksmith, spent two decades training for the “House”
[caption id="attachment_3867" align="alignright" width="270"] George Victor Howell[/caption] by Bob "He was a real gentleman." That's how people who knew the man that trained horses and ran Jack Hardy's JY Farm in St. Adolphe for the better part of 20 years, described George Victor Howell. The Howell family hailed from Saskatchewan, but made their home in…
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Irwin Driedger, the Jock with the Golden Locks
[caption id="attachment_3839" align="alignright" width="270"] Irwin Driedger aboard Sovereign Award winner Liz's Pride. Gerry Hart photo.[/caption] by Bob Clifford "Shorty" Gray hired 11-year-old Irwin Driedger as an exercise rider. The young blonde schoolboy from Russell, Manitoba tipped the scales at 78 pounds and got his first win on a race track at the Neepawa Fair Grounds…
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Pool to Market and Bobby Stewart, magic in the 1967 Gold Cup
[caption id="attachment_3814" align="alignright" width="270"] Pool to Market digs in to win the 1967 Gold Cup at Assiniboia Downs.[/caption] by Bob On August 5, 1967 the stars above Assiniboia Downs aligned perfectly for rider Robert Roy "Bobby" Stewart and his chestnut charge Pool to Market, and the pair put on a fabulous show for the 5,000-plus…
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Manitoba Derby history
[caption id="attachment_3727" align="alignright" width="270"] Assembly Hall wins 2013 Manitoba Derby[/caption] by Bob The first “Derby” was run in 1930; although from 1930 to 1933 it was known as the Manitoba Stakes. In 1934 the name of the race was officially changed to the Manitoba Derby. It should come as no surprise to anyone that the…
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Harry Gumprich, Springfield cattle rancher, spent quarter century racing horses
by Bob [caption id="attachment_3700" align="alignright" width="270"] Harry and wife Gertrude pose with Derby Belle, 1976 Manitoba Derby. Icy Beau, entrant.[/caption] The Manitoba Derby is coming up Monday, August 4, so how about a trip down memory lane for our annual Derby tale. Local cattleman, Helmuth "Harry" Gumprich will never be famous for his efforts in…
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Ponies, politicians and a princess — the day the Downs went dark
[caption id="attachment_3658" align="alignright" width="270"] Michael Gobuty, Adrienne Gobuty and Hazel Wright[/caption] by Bob Talk of ponies and a princess evokes thoughts of a fairytale. Insert politicians and it becomes a nightmare. Thirty-two years have passed since one fateful day in July 1982, but it's a blemish on track history is difficult to forget. It was…
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