[caption id="attachment_11846" align="alignnone" width="1080"] Man O' War. How good was he?[/caption] by Bob Gates For as long as most of us can remember, the first Saturday in May is reserved for the Kentucky Derby, but not this year. The "Run for the Roses" was rescheduled to the fall because of COVID-19. You just knew NBC…
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That was Then. This is Now.
[caption id="attachment_11811" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Love the animal first and the sport second.[/caption] by Bob Gates There are times when the past begs to be remembered. To hear her story, you must listen carefully, because sometimes it comes to you in unusual ways. The most recent case of nostalgia-like-symptoms came courtesy of the Winnipeg Free Press.…
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The Clare’s family horse operation was built on passion
[caption id="attachment_10563" align="alignright" width="1000"] Marge and Vic Clare with one of their many winners together, Cognitive Unit.[/caption] by Bob Gates Marge and Victor Clare ran one of those typical "Mom & Pop" stables. Their story is a good one, except for the part that it took me seven years to get it done. Marge and…
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Yorkshire Lad CCR. $20 Wager Led to a Life-Long Career in Horse Racing.
[caption id="attachment_10218" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] L to R, Lou Davies, Jim Speers and Dr. Norm Anderson at 1st Horsemen's Ball, circa 1951.[/caption] by Bob Gates Following the death of one of the most popular and respected men in the history of thoroughbred racing in Western Canada in July 1977, Winnipeg Free Press sports editor Maurice Smith…
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A Man and his Horse: The Tale of “Slim” Keith & Contributor
[caption id="attachment_10163" align="alignright" width="1000"] 1941 Western Canada Handicap. Contributor (#3) finishes second on the rail.[/caption] by Bob Gates "Someday, in the future, when a historian begins to record the story of western racing there will be a chapter for gallant little Joey - the Duchess of York - for Help Yourself and Yorkie Prince -…
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For the Love of Racing, Those Were the Days…
[caption id="attachment_4427" align="alignright" width="270"] On the tarmac at ASD after the races, in the "old" days.[/caption] by Bob With less than a handful of live racing dates left, the end of the 2015 season at Assiniboia Downs is almost upon us. It has been a challenging year, like others recently, but that seems to be…
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Curtain drops on live “Season of Promise”
[caption id="attachment_4052" align="alignright" width="270"] Nuts In May. August 11, 1974. Final day of the meet.[/caption] by Bob The horse population wasn't what we had hoped, and as a result we saw shorter fields, but the season still featured some fantastic highlights. On the female side of the ledger Go Go Lolo proved herself to be…
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Balooga Bull & Ardell Sayler – Two giants in ASD history!
[caption id="attachment_2193" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Balooga Bull won the 2011 Winnipeg Futurity in a sizzling 1:10 3/5. As a 2-year-old!"][/caption] A $2,000 bargain yearling, the "Bull" was fast from the start by Bob The 37th running of the $30,000 Golden Boy Stakes, which showcases the finest 3-year-olds at the Downs going six furlongs, ran Wednesday…
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Dynamic duo dominated rider standings at Downs for 10 years
[caption id="attachment_1946" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Bobby Stewart aboard Ocean Roar in the 1969 Kentucky Derby."][/caption] Bobby Stewart and Dick Armstrong had different styles, but got similar results. They won. by Bob From 1962 to 1972, two jockeys dominated the leading rider standings at Assiniboia Downs. In that 11-year period George Richard “Dickie” Armstrong and Robert…
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Dawn breaks on season #56 at Assiniboia Downs
[caption id="attachment_1852" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Saugeen Linda from David Swail's barn. Won a race Opening Day at Assiniboia Downs on June 14, 1963. 50 years ago!"][/caption] Fond memories of opening day at the Downs by Bob It’s hard to believe that seven months have passed since we put a wrap on the 2012 live racing…
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