Secretariat winning the 1973 Kentucky Derby. Photo courtesy of KentuckyDerby.com While most sports are quiet these days, there are major happenings in the horse racing world while it also observes coronavirus safety protocols. In what may be a first at any racetrack, Assiniboia Downs -- which is closed to the public-- is broadcasting morning workouts…
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Sifton Memorial Celebrates 50th Running
[caption id="attachment_10715" align="alignright" width="1024"] Patricia Too wins John W Sifton Memorial Stakes. July 20, 1975.[/caption] by Bob Gates Where does the time go? June 10, 2019 marked the 50th anniversary of the death of John Wright Sifton. The upcoming running of the J. W. Sifton Memorial on September 7 honours Mr. Sifton’s memory and it will…
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Jockey Joan Phipps: Saskatoon Sweetheart and Downs Darling
[caption id="attachment_10656" align="alignright" width="1000"] Joan Phipps. First win at Assiniboia Downs. Thistle Dawn. July 7, 1972[/caption] by Bob Gates Life in Saskatoon grew to be a bore and at times even a nightmare for young Joan Phipps. School work couldn’t hold a candle to competing in the Saskatoon-Regina-Prince Albert light horse show circuit where she…
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“Wacing’s” Weird & Wacky
by Bob Gates Not even Looney Tunes with its wascally wabbit has anything on thoroughbred horse racing when it comes to the zany and unusual. From the annals of Winnipeg turf lore, few stories rival the wondrous happenings at Assiniboia Downs or at Jimmy Speers' old haunt, Polo Park racetrack. Polo Park was the scene…
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The Speers. A Modern Day History. Assiniboia Downs Resurrects RJ’s Race.
[caption id="attachment_10332" align="aligncenter" width="2948"] Cosmic Tip. Speers Handicap 1966. Harry Jeffrey presenting to trainer Gary Danelson. Gary's father holding the horse. Roger Jensen in he saddle.[/caption] by Bob Gates When we left off last week's blog story, horse racing's future in Winnipeg looked bleak. R. J. Speers had known for some time that the Polo…
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The Big Man from South Dakota is Gone
[caption id="attachment_10101" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Trainer Ardell Sayler with his Champion Balooga Bull.[/caption] by Bob Gates Sunday, May 26 was a typical afternoon on the backside at Assiniboia Downs, after all, horses don’t do weekends. But this Sunday, Death came calling, and when he left the Sayler family was stricken with grief. Ardell Sayler had been…
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From cheap punch line to the pride of Canada
[caption id="attachment_10053" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Former racehorse Traffic Sub as Branch County with Michel Vaillancourt aboard winning a Silver Medal at the 1976 Olympics.[/caption] by Bob Gates "A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust…" A catchy start for telling the tale of a thoroughbred, but not so much if it's the…
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A Tale of Two Bobbys: May 3, 1969 – The Best of Times. May 3, 1985 – The Worst of Times.
[caption id="attachment_10002" align="alignright" width="1024"] Bobby Stewart on Ocean Roar at the 1969 Kentucky Derby.[/caption] by Bob Gates The 2019 racing season is loaded with special anniversaries. Last week it was Barbara Jo Rubin and this week belongs to another jockey, Robert Roy "Bobby" Stewart. In 1969 the American Triple Crown races turned into a duel…
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Happy 50th Barbara Jo!
[caption id="attachment_9936" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] 50 years ago today. Barbara Jo Rubin becomes first female jockey to ride, and the first female to win, at Assiniboia Downs.[/caption] by Bob Gates On May 16, 1969, 19-year-old, Barbara Jo Rubin became the first female jockey to win a race at Assiniboia Downs. It's hard to believe, but a…
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They knew how to win
[caption id="attachment_9223" align="alignright" width="1024"] Navy Days and Major Action hold the record for most wins in a live Assiniboia Downs racing season with 11, but Navy Days accomplished the feat at a shorter meet.[/caption] by Bob Gates Horses that know how to win are the most revered in the sport of horse racing. Every owner,…
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