Tag Archives: 1970 Manitoba Derby

The Manitoba Centennial Derby – July 15, 1970

[caption id="attachment_19466" align="alignright" width="1000"] 1970 Manitoba Derby. Program cover.[/caption]   by Bob Gates Let’s take a short break from the usual fare you find on these pages and go with one of our photo blogs, shall we? This year’s 75th Running of the Manitoba Derby features $125,000 in purse money with an additional $100,000 bonus…
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Lumberjack Ron: Memories of Secretariat, Northern Dancer and Assiniboia Downs

[caption id="attachment_16872" align="alignright" width="1000"] Ron Turcotte wins the 1970 Manitoba Centennial Derby aboard Fanfreluche.[/caption] by Bob Gates Ron Turcotte was 14 when he left school to work as a lumberjack with his father.  He saw his career go from cutting lumber in the bush to construction work and eventually he found his way to E.…
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The 1970 Manitoba Centennial Derby and “The Trib”: 2020 Milestones

[caption id="attachment_12309" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Fanfreluche, the only filly, was a dilly[/caption] by Bob Gates The Manitoba Centennial Derby celebrates its golden anniversary (1970-2020) this year. Go figure. It doesn’t seem like it, but 50 years have passed since the historic Centennial Derby was run at Assiniboia Downs as "The Queen of all Britons" and her…
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The Day Two Ladies Reigned Supreme at ASD. July 15, 1970 .

[caption id="attachment_9019" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Royals arrive at Assiniboia Downs for the Manitoba Derby. July 15, 1970.[/caption] by Bob Gates Manitoba was celebrating its centenary in 1970 and the owner of Assiniboia Downs, Jack Hardy, wasn't about to let the occasion pass without taking full advantage. The 22nd running of the Manitoba Derby was the marquee…
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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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