[caption id="attachment_1520" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Coherence. August 29, 1959. Gary Danelson's first ever win at Assiniboia Downs."][/caption] by Bob Gary Danelson, son of Henry and Hazel, and a native of Scobey Montana, is the all-time leading trainer at Assiniboia Downs. He entered the 2012 season with 1,115 wins and has now added 12 more to sit…
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Thank You, Mr. Hardy
[caption id="attachment_1491" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Jack Hardy, 4th from left, with Queen Elizabeth at the 1970 Manitoba Derby."][/caption] by Bob Let’s take a time out from our usual activities this week and remember James C. Hardy, the founder of Assiniboia Downs. The year was 1957, R. James Speers had been dead for two years, Polo Park…
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Tough Manitoba-bred Victor’s Pride made no apologies
[caption id="attachment_1427" align="alignright" width="266" caption="Victor's Pride defeats Merry's Jay - Free Press Archives"][/caption] by Bob Have you ever noticed that when the subject of Manitoba breds comes up, it almost sounds like you find yourself having to apologize for the breed? To varying degrees, many of us have done that, but when you think about…
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The Mighty Seabiscuit Raced in Winnipeg?
[caption id="attachment_1391" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Joey - "The People's Horse""][/caption] by Bob Sorry, Seabiscuit didn’t race here, but now that I have your attention let me tell you the story of a horse much like the “Biscuit” who raced in our fair city in the “dirty ‘30s” and early ‘40s. Joey was a champion racehorse whose…
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A Derby Tale Out of This World
[caption id="attachment_1191" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Fire N Desire wins 1969 Manitoba Derby"][/caption] by Bob On Monday, August 6, the Manitoba Derby will celebrate its 64th running, but this past July 19 marked the 43rd anniversary of what might have been the best ever Derby run at Assiniboia Downs – one that was just out of this…
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Precambrian rock solid as one of the winningest horses ever at ASD
[caption id="attachment_1127" align="alignright" width="260" caption="Precambrian - Official Win #6 at ASD"][/caption] by Bob Which horse holds the record for the most wins in a single season at Assiniboia Downs? Well, if I’ve done my homework correctly there are two steeds that can lay claim to the honour. Navy Days and Major Action each won 11…
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The Gold Strike Mile and Assiniboia Downs – A True Harlequin Romance
by Bob [caption id="attachment_15111" align="alignright" width="270"] Gold Strike -- The winning began at ASD[/caption] Okay, now there’s a title in need of an explanation! Over the next two weeks the Gold Strike Mile will be the featured stakes race and it will be run in two divisions. On July 20 Manitoba-bred 3-year-old colts and geldings…
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R. C. “Bob” Anderson – Master of Hillside Farm
[caption id="attachment_1025" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Northern Quill wins 1976 R. C. Anderson Memorial"][/caption] by Bob The 37th running of the $50,000 R. C. Anderson Stakes for 3-year-old Manitoba-bred fillies goes Friday night and it is named in honour of Robert Carr Anderson. R. C. “Bob” Anderson was a well known and respected cattleman with a fondness…
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Nifty Dominated the Wheat City Stakes at ASD
[caption id="attachment_929" align="alignright" width="252" caption="Nifty wins 1986 Wheat City Handicap"][/caption] by Bob Who knew? The Downs has honoured the City of Brandon with a race carrying the name “Wheat City” since it first opened in 1958. According to old media guides and newspaper accounts this year’s Wheat City Stakes should be the 42nd running, but…
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Remembering Lexico, Canada Day and Foolish Pleasure
[caption id="attachment_836" align="alignright" width="230" caption="Lexico wins 1976 River Park Handicap at ASD"][/caption] by Bob This Sunday marks the 36th running of the Canada Day Stakes. These days the race is for fillies and mares 3-and-up, who will compete for a $30,000 purse, but this race wasn’t always for fillies and mares. That restriction has evolved…
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