Category Archives: ASD History

Was Liz’s Pride the best filly or mare ever to race at Assiniboia Downs?

  [caption id="attachment_2693" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Liz's Pride - Champion 2-Year-Old Filly in Canada 1978. Irwin Driedger up."][/caption] The "Pride" of Stoneacres Farm was one flashy filly! by Bob Who was the greatest filly or mare to ever race at the Downs? Questions like this are fun. They inspire debate and good-natured banter, and let’s face…
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Joseph Nandor Selyem, A Man For All Horses

  [caption id="attachment_2618" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Joseph Selyem. First win! Kelsey Dancer, June 7, 1967. Assiniboia Downs."][/caption] Not a horse was born that he wouldn’t ride! by Bob Perhaps legendary Downs' trainer, the late Don Gray, described him best when he said: “He is outstanding on horses that are a little erratic or nervous. He’s always…
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Cecil James Filby – Extraordinarily Ordinary Man

by Bob Anyone who has been around the Downs for a while has likely heard of Cecil Filby, and as our Manitoba Derby fast approaches some may wonder why I selected him for this week’s remembrance. Was it for his accomplishments in our prestigious Derby? Was it for his life-long achievements at the Downs? No.…
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15 minutes with Smoky Cinder

  [caption id="attachment_2536" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Smoky Cinder in 1999."][/caption] Competitive fires still burning in local living legend by Bob Who knew? Downs’ legendary graded stakes-placed and multiple stakes winner Smoky Cinder, a grandson of the mighty Northern Dancer, is alive and well at 20! One night at the track I approached the man who used…
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Merry’s Jay: Lord of Avondale and the Toast of Manitoba

  [caption id="attachment_2513" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Merry's Jay wins 1976 Manitoba Derby."][/caption] First Manitoba-bred ever to win the Manitoba Derby by Bob In 1976 Merry’s Jay won the Harry Jeffrey Stakes. Eight days later he became the first Manitoba-bred ever to win our own Manitoba Derby. Only two other horses have won the Harry Jeffrey Stakes…
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Body Works, Super Filly and Grandam to a Champion!

  [caption id="attachment_2436" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Body Works wins 1992 R.C. Anderson."][/caption] High class Manitoba thoroughbred family resulted in Santa Anita Derby-G1 winner by Bob In 1992 local legendary trainer, the late Don Gray, described 3-year-old Body Works as the best filly he had ever trained. That’s about as high praise as you can get around…
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Canada Day, Intercontinent, ASD Record Maker!

  [caption id="attachment_2359" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Intercontinent defeats Major Enterprise in the 1981 Canada Day Stakes."][/caption] Kives' classy chestnut speedster one of the best ever to race at Downs by Bob This past Monday marked the 37th running of the $30,000 Canada Day Stakes for fillies and mares. Officially it may have been the 37th running,…
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Miss Missile, A Love Story

  [caption id="attachment_2322" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Miss Missile wins 2008 Chantilly."][/caption] Chantilly winner was one of the best 3-year-old fillies in Downs' history by Bob Ever since its inaugural run in 1981 the Chantilly has featured some of the finest 3-year-old fillies ever to run at Assiniboia Downs! This year’s edition goes Wednesday, June 26 with…
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Franklin Marino Arnason – The Silver Fox and Dad

  [caption id="attachment_2287" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Danger Rules wins 2012 Frank Arnason Sire Stakes."][/caption] Frank Arnason Sire Stakes named after someone very special by Bob The Frank Arnason Sire Stakes goes this Saturday, June 22 and marks the 26th running of the $25,000 race for Manitoba-bred 3-year-olds going 6 furlongs. The race pays tribute to Franklin…
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Kalfaari – The Peoples’ Horse

  [caption id="attachment_2242" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Winnipeg Free Press Trophy"][/caption] People who had never been to the track before came just to see him by Bob This week’s featured stakes race is the 53rd running of the $30,000 Free Press Stakes. The Free Press, run on Father's Day Sunday, June 16, is the first major stakes…
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