by George [caption id="attachment_811" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Plus Ultra with owner John Ganas and crew in the Winner's Circle after the 2012 Chantilly Stakes"][/caption] Plus Ultra made all the running under jockey Tyrone Nelson to win the $30,000 Chantilly Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Friday night at the Downs and made sure there were no winners…
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Memories of A. E. “Bert” Blake in this week’s Insider Newsletter
[caption id="attachment_787" align="alignright" width="270" caption="A. E. "Bert" Blake (to the left) and his favourite horse Clique, July 20, 1968."][/caption] by George First, my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the late A. E. “Bert” Blake – a friend, a true gentleman and a tremendous horseman who unselfishly taught so many people so much.…
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Frank Arnason Sire Stakes — Listen
by Bob [caption id="attachment_776" align="alignright" width="250" caption="Going For A Few wins 2011 Frank Arnason Sire Stakes"][/caption] This Saturday’s feature race is the 25th running of the Frank Arnason Sire Stakes. The race is for Manitoba bred 3-year-olds over a distance of 6 furlongs for a purse of $25,000. The winner of the inaugural running of…
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Schillerthekiller makes Big Move in Mud to win 2012 Free Press Stakes
by George [caption id="attachment_718" align="alignright" width="240" caption="Free Press Winners! Schillerthekiller & barn foreman Susan Crane."][/caption] Schillerthekiller went from last to first with a big move on the turn and drew out to win the $30,000 Free Press Stakes on Sunday in front of the largest Father’s Day crowd seen at Assiniboia Downs in decades. The…
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Lone Bettor wins $4,495 Pick-4 on Muddy Saturday Afternoon at Downs
[caption id="attachment_704" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Unbridled Song nails $4,495 for Pick-4 Bettor."][/caption] by George The track was muddy but the odds were great on a sunny Saturday afternoon at the Downs, and someone took home $4,495 as the lone winning ticket holder on the Pick-4. The day started off with a bang when $25 winner Sharp…
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The Argument Started in the Gate, Don’t Forget Early Post Time Saturday: 1 p.m.
[caption id="attachment_684" align="alignright" width="250" caption="Hurrionby. Turned back Maintenance Man."][/caption] by George The Pick-4 came close to paying $4,000 on Friday night at ASD but Maintenance Man ($24.10) just couldn’t get by favored female Hurrionby ($2.65) no matter what her name said. Still, Maintenance Man received an excellent trip from jockey Paul Nolan, who continues to…
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2/3 Disqualified at Downs. Nevermind, have an ice cream.
[caption id="attachment_671" align="alignright" width="300" caption="What did they say I did?"][/caption] by George It was DQ night at the Downs on Wednesday and we don’t mean Dairy Queen. Two of the seven races resulted in disqualifications and there was also a third claim of foul in the last race that didn’t hold up. In the third…
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Remembering “Woody” in the Free Press
by Bob [caption id="attachment_659" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Iwouldificould wins 2005 Free Press Stakes"][/caption] This Sunday’s running of the Free Press Stakes will be the 52nd edition of the race. The Winnipeg Free Press trophy has a long and storied association with the Downs, beginning with Fremarcton winning the inaugural running of the race in 1960. From…
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Balooga Bull Wins $30,000 Golden Boy to Stay Perfect at 6-for-6, Belmont Stakes Saturday
[caption id="attachment_637" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Balooga Bull wins 2012 Golden Boy"][/caption] by George Balooga Bull made it 6-for-6 with a display of natural speed that made his competition look slow in the $30,000 Golden Boy Stakes at Assiniboia Downs on Friday night as he continued his march towards the $75,000 Manitoba Lotteries Derby on Monday, August…
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Betting Against I’ll Have Another in the Belmont Stakes, Best Bets for the Weekend at ASD
[caption id="attachment_599" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Danger Rules has a colorful stall!"][/caption] by Rob Late Update: I'll Have Another scratched from Belmont Stakes Maybe I just don’t like the horse. Maybe I’m completely missing out on his brilliance. Maybe I’m completely wrong and I’ll Have Another will be the 12th Triple Crown winner, but I think not.…
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