Thursday, November 21, 2019

Assiniboia Downs The Insider E-Newsletter

Vol. 14  No. 45 (Issue #715)

By Ivan Bigg

 

Weekly Horseplayer Report and Fun Stuff

(If this column looks askew in your email, click here for an online version.)

BIGG IS ON A BREAK: His regular column will return Thursday, Dec. 5
(This is his pre-written column which includes a challenging fun quiz.)

"BEST CAESAR IN TOWN" NATIONAL FINALS (sponsored by Mott's)

Wish Cory well!
Will ASD bartender Cory O’Grodnik’s Caesar be judged better than those of other provincial finalists to share in $5,000 in prize money in Toronto this weekend? See story on Cory’s Winnipeg win here.

Bullet briefs . . .

  • What was Secretariat's top speed? See the "Horsing Around" Quiz below
  • How long does a horse sleep? You may not believe it. See the Quiz below.
  • Have you tried one of the daily specials? Mm-mm.
  • Who was the "silver fox?" A man with "charisma plus" explains historian Bob
  • Coming next week: U.S. Thanksgiving and the second-last Player's Choice tourney
 
WIN $100 IN SATURDAY’S “3 FOR THE MONEY:” CONTEST: Predict the first three winners of Woodbine’s late pick-4. Program pages and entry forms available in the Race Book.

PLAY WINNIPEG’S ULTIMATE “CHASE THE ACE” GAME SATURDAY
in support of the Winners Foundation: Ace of diamonds jackpot pool $1,000, two jokers $100 each, other cards $25. Tickets $5 each or three for $10. Purchase by 3:30 p.m. Draw at 4 p.m.

DRAW FOR $50 IN BETTING VOUCHERS CONTINUES AT OTBs SATURDAY AFTERNOON
. Enter with the ticket seller during the week as well.

Click to expand

DO THE DOWNS

Want highlights for the next 10 days? Click calendar.
What tracks are running in November? Find out here.
What are today’s $$$ carryovers? See them here.
Want to follow sports in the Race Book? NFL, Jets

FREE VLT TOURNAMENTS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AT 8 PM: Enter in the Club West Gaming lounge Friday and Saturday. Get into the draw for 10 chances to win $20 in free VLT spins. Top winner from each night participates in a month-end finale for more spins and $250 in prize money.

NEW! POOL TABLES, ELECTRONIC DARTS, TAP TV TRIVIA: These are new games added to Clubhouse fun on the plaza. Pool games are just $1 (insert coins). Tap TV Trivia: Download the free app on your phone to answer 12 questions every 20 minutes to see if you’re better and faster than others. NOTE: FRIDAY & SATURDAY ARE TRIVIA NIGHTS WITH PRIZES! (Bartender/special events coordinator Cory is your host starting at 7 p.m.)

NEW!
39-CENT WINGS AND OTHER FOOD SPECIALS: 10 wings for $3.90, 20 for $7.80 Friday and Saturday from 3 to 9 p.m. and NFL Sunday from noon ‘til 9 p.m. Daily specials:
  • Perogies and garlic sausage with grilled onions and sour cream is the weekend special
    Pizza Mondays: $10
  • Taco Tuesdays: 3 for $10 (chicken or beef)
  • Rib Wednesdays:  $12 for half-rack of baby-back BBQ ribs with fries and cole slaw
  • Burger Thursdays: $4 off any burger platter
  • $13 weekend specials: Lasagna with Caesar salad and garlic toast or chicken pot pie with choice of side or perogies and garlic sausage with grilled onions and sour cream
  • JUST ADDED! Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs $4.95, pizza by the slice $2.95 and popcorn $2.50 every (Friday 4 to 10 p.m., Saturday/Sunday 12 to 10 p.m.)
  • HAPPY HOUR: Sunday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to closing. 6 oz. house wine ($4.25), house highball ($3.75), domestic beer ($3.75), Downs Caesar ($5.00)
GREEDY CORNER: See all jackpot carryovers here.
AUCTION NEWS

FINAL K5 STABLES HORSE GOES FOR $22,000: Golden Stripe, 13, one of the best female horses to have raced at Assiniboia Downs--now in foal to a leading sire, Goldencents--sold for $22,000 at a Keeneland auction last Friday. The new owner is Ibrahim Rachid who has been racing just one horse this past year at Belterra Park, Ohio and Presque Isle Downs, Pennsylvania. The sale of Golden Stripe brings to an end four decades of racing by K5 Stables, the stable created by the late Phil Kives of “As Seen on TV” entrepreneurial fame.
 
HANDICAPPING

Larry Liebrecht is guest-hosting the “I won bigger” betting group Saturday at 10:30 a.m. on the Clubhouse plaza. Woodbine’s pick-5 in races 2 to 6. Everyone welcome! ASD generously tops up each $20 share with an extra $5.
HORSING AROUND


See answers at bottom of column.
  1. What was Secretariat’s top speed?
    What was Secretariat’s top speed (mph)? (a) 43 mph (b) 46 mph (c) 49 mph (d) 55 mph

  2. What is the top speed of a quarter horse? (a) 43 mph (b) 46 mph (c) 49 mph (d) 55 mph

  3. In a Glasgow University study, what is a horse’s favourite flavour? (a) fenugreek (b) bananas (c) mint (d) apples

  4. When you see the word “oaks” applied to a race, what do you immediately know? (a) it’s a race for horses bred in that province or state (b) it’s a race for older fillies and mares (c) it’s a race for 3-year-old fillies (d) it’s a race for horses who have won at least one race

  5. How many hours of continuous sleep does the average horse get? (a) about 3 hours (b) about 6 hours (c) about 9 hours (d) about 12 hours

  6. Who is the winningest-ever jockey in North America? (a) Bill Shoemaker (b) Pat Day (c) Larry Bird (d) Russell Baze

  7. What is generally considered to be the most important angle in picking a winner? Looking for a horse that (a) now is being ridden by the leading jockey (b) is racing in a maiden claiming race after racing in a maiden allowance race (c) has made an equipment change (d) swishes his tail often during the post parade

  8. How many pounds of manure does a horse produce in a day? (a) 30 pounds (b) 40 pounds (c) 50 pounds (d) 112 pounds

  9. How many fillies have won the Kentucky Derby? (a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 5 (d) 7

  10. What was the highest-ever win payoff for a horse at Assiniboia Downs? (a) $289 (b) $382 (c) $430 (d) $474
SAVVY NFL PICKS by TravyFootball: Week 12
  • Bills over Broncos (Sunday noon): Bills QB Josh Allen is one of the more unorthodox players to watch this year. He’s not a great passer but he’s a heck of a runner; he actually has more rushing touchdowns (7) than Lamar Jackson (6).
  • 49ers over Packers (Sunday night): I am a die-hard Niners fan, I have a lot of friends (including my co-worker Scott Bruce) that are Packer fans. One of us (me) will get bragging rights after this one. The Niners need to go back to running the ball because having Jimmy Garoppolo throw 40 times doesn’t work in their favour.
  • Giants over Bears (Sunday noon): I have no idea who will be playing QB for the Bears this week. It could be Mitch Trubisky, it could be Chase Daniel, it could even be me at this point. It makes me physically ill having to watch Trubisky go out there and play. The Giants coming off a bye week aren’t very good either but they at least have a somewhat competent QB in Daniel Jones.
  • Patriots over Cowboys (Sunday afternoon): The Patriots will make it a clean sweep vs the NFC East (3-0 so far). They haven’t looked overly impressive the last few weeks but I’ll take Bill Belichick over Jason Garrett who doesn’t really do anything other than stand and clap.

MY $5 PROLINE TICKET (worth $152.15): Bills over Broncos ($1.70), Steelers/Bengals tie ($3.90), Seahawks over Eagles ($2.55), Ravens over Rams ($1.80) Record: -$40.

PICKS RECORD: Last week: 3 correct out of 4. Overall (since week 3): 21 correct out of 36.

*       *       *
GREY CUP PICK (Sunday 5 p.m.): Winnipeg Blue Bombers over Hamilton Tiger Cats 33-30. The Bombers haven’t been to the Grey Cup since 2011 and haven’t won it since 1990, They’re due.

NOTE: In exceptional cases (e.g. injuries to key personnel), these picks may be amended in the online version of The Insider early Saturday afternoon. Go there (ASDowns.com) for updates.


WATCH GAMES IN HIGH-DEF IN THE RACE BOOK
 
THE BEST OF BOB: The silver fox -- a man with "charisma plus"

The Arnason name is a prominent one in the local horse racing scene, but what do you remember about the family patriarch, Franklin Marino Arnason who passed more than 30 years ago? Bob takes a warm-hearted look back at the head of the Arnason family here. (First published in June 2013)
 
DATES TO CIRCLE
  • Tonight: Thursday night all-you-can eat certified Angus prime rib with salad bar, pasta station, amazing soup and to-die-for Bourbon Bacon Brownies. Reserve with Samantha at 204-885-3330 ext. 0
  • Next Thursday, Nov. 28: Happy Thanksgiving to our U.S. friends! Early post times at major U.S. tracks starting at 10:25 with Laurel. Turkey plate special at the track. Certified Angus prime rib buffet from 5 to 8 p.m.
  • Saturday, Nov. 30: Kentucky Derby prep race (Kentucky Jockey Club) at Churchill; Player’s Choice handicapping tournament
  • Thursday, Dec. 5: Prime rib buffet
  • Saturday, Dec. 7: Two Kentucky Derby prep races -- Remsen at Aqueduct and Los Alamitos Futurity at Los Alamitos.
FESTIVE EVENTS: Reserve with Samantha at 204-885-3330 ext. 0
  • Thursday, Dec. 12: Christmas-themed prime rib buffet
  • Thursday, Dec. 19: Christmas-themed prime rib buffet
  • Thursday, Dec. 26: Chanukah-themed prime rib buffet
  • Tuesday, Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve gala
NEXT INSIDER: Wednesday, Nov. 27, the day before U.S. Thanksgiving
 
ANSWERS FOR “HORSING AROUND” QUIZ: 1c, 2d, 3a, 4c, 5a, 6d, 7b, 8c, 9b, 10d.

HOW DO YOU RATE?
8-10 winners: Your horse smarts are ready to be parlayed at the betting window. 5-7 winners: The middle ground is fine as long as you’re pointing in the right direction. 4 or fewer: Maybe get a good grounding in rocking horses first.
Be a Grey Cup Bombers booster!
Wear blue and gold tomorrow!

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3975 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3K 2E9
Ph (204) 885.3330 • Fax (204) 831.5348

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