[caption id="attachment_1609" align="alignright" width="270" caption="John and June Sifton with L'Inconnue at ASD, June, 28, 1967. Chas Billingsley up."][/caption] by Bob The 43rd running of the $50,000 J. W. Sifton Memorial for Manitoba-bred 3-year-old colts and geldings takes place this Friday at Assiniboia Downs. The race is named in honour of a very special "Manitoba" horseman…
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Workouts: Transferring morning glory to the Winner’s Circle
[caption id="attachment_1583" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Tannat. Sleeper in the Pick-5?"][/caption] by Rob Using workouts in your handicapping can help you to spot three types of horses ready to run well: first time starters, horses coming off a freshening and stakes horses. First time starters are working themselves into shape to run their first race, horses coming…
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The Gray Boys dominated the ASD trainer standings from 1970-80
[caption id="attachment_1562" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Don and Clayton Gray with Attractive Miss. Bobby Stewart up. July 24, 1962."][/caption] by Bob What more can be said about two men – brothers who dominated the leading trainer standings at Assiniboia Downs from 1970 to 1980? Clayton Gray won seven training titles (1970, 72, 73, 74, 76, 79, 80)…
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Pierre Lapin, Dance the Dance, highlight Labour Day Weekend at ASD, Pick-4 pays $4,747.40
[caption id="attachment_1550" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Happy Hour Stable's Pierre Lapin with grooms Marco Arzate and Brad McKenna. Pierre has now won 4 of 6."][/caption] by George Pierre Lapin and Dance the Dance recorded the highlight performances of the Labour Day Long Weekend at Assiniboia Downs and a few lucky fans scored big when the $2 Pick-4…
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Labour Day long weekend looks favorable for longshots at ASD
[caption id="attachment_1532" align="alignright" width="270" caption="NCI Manitoba Derby Pre-Game Show with Scott Taylor and Chad Torevell"][/caption] by Rob Last weekend was filled with short-priced favourites, stakes races and impressive performances. Balooga Bull romped home in an allowance race, Red Rebellion won a Maiden Special Weight race and the five stakes races were won mostly by the…
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Happy Birthday Gary Danelson! All-time leading trainer at Assiniboia Downs!
[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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Slew of stakes at ASD this weekend feature the best horses on the grounds, Balooga Bull and betting opportunities
[caption id="attachment_947" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Golden Stripe will try to duplicate her Canada Day Stakes victory in Friday's Distaff at ASD"][/caption] by Rob There are five stakes races this weekend at ASD featuring the best horses on the grounds, including Manitoba Derby winner Balooga Bull, who will face seven rivals in a prep for the Gold…
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$4,321 Pick-4 Carryover for Saturday, Moccasin wins Manitoba Quarter Horse Derby
[caption id="attachment_1460" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Tim Moccasin with Agassiz Stakes entrant Kola Kat"][/caption] by George Sharpen your pencils. Longshot Count of Notia came rolling home wide and fast under jockey Chris Husbands to win the seventh race by a neck at ASD on Friday night and force a Pick-4 carryover of $4,321 heading into the Saturday’s…
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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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Wacky Friday night longshots result in Pick-4 Carryover of $4,299 into Saturday night
[caption id="attachment_355" align="alignright" width="182" caption="Told you I would win that one!"][/caption] by George Friday night at the Downs started off great for the chalk players and got progressively wackier, which was good news for the longshot players but bad news for the Pick-4 players. The latter will be back at it again tonight to take…
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