[caption id="attachment_16078" align="alignright" width="1000"] May 28, 2010. Darren Dunn calls race #15,000 from the Winner's Circle.[/caption] by Bob Gates In a 1989 interview Darren Dunn told Paul Turney of the Daily Racing Form (DRF) that he was 11 years old when he heard his first race. "It was an exciting confrontation between Northern Diamond and…
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A Salute to Assiniboia Downs
[caption id="attachment_14112" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] The 2021 season at ASD is nearing the finish line.[/caption] by Bob Gates "The time has come," the Walrus said, "To talk of many things: Of shoes - and ships - and sealing-wax - Of cabbages and kings - And why the sea is boiling hot -…
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Celebrating 64 Years of the Gold Cup
[caption id="attachment_14051" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Pool to Market sets new track record in 1967 Gold Cup at Assiniboia Downs[/caption] by Bob Gates One of the many challenges facing Jack Hardy when he opened Assiniboia Downs in 1958 was to establish races that would grow into annual contests steeped in tradition. In the first year of…
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Fergie, the Jets and Assiniboia Downs – A Love Story
[caption id="attachment_13375" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] John Ferguson (centre) makes presentation to connections of 1981 Manitoba Derby winner Regimen. Dan Beckon far left. Trainer Mike Doyle (in hat) on left. Owner Barbara Rausch[/caption] by Bob Gates Ten years ago, Mark Chipman announced the purchase of the Atlanta Thrashers, and the Winnipeg Jets 2.0 were born. What a…
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2018 Live Racing Season sails into the sunset, but lots going on in off-season at Downs
[caption id="attachment_9277" align="alignright" width="1024"] Ray Stewart, family and friends in the winner's circle at the Downs. September 6, 2015.[/caption] by Bob Gates The end is near! Okay, perhaps that's a little too melodramatic, but this is my final blog story as the season draws to a close on Sunday, September 9. Wow, it seems like…
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Husbands wins 4 on opening night 2016 at ASD, Wagering doubles
[caption id="attachment_5341" align="alignleft" width="790"] Out of Mischief powers home to win the first race of the 2016 season at ASD, the Don Gray Memorial, for trainer Gary Danelson. Richard Mairs up.[/caption] Jockey Chris Husbands won four of the eight races on Mothers' Day opening night 2016 at Assiniboia Downs; trainer Tom Gardipy Jr. scored a…
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A Tale of Two Wolves for 2016 Opening Day at ASD
[caption id="attachment_5124" align="aligncenter" width="780"] One of three winners for Bernie "Longshot" Howland on Opening Day 1971.[/caption] by Bob Gates The 2016 live racing season kicks off on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 8, as has become our custom at Assiniboia Downs, and have I got a story for you. It goes like this: An old Cherokee…
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The Winner’s Circle at Assiniboia Downs, a history of hallowed ground
[caption id="attachment_3538" align="alignright" width="270"] Dick Armstrong. Original Winner's Circle. Chain link fence. June 10, 1958[/caption] by Bob Arguably the most hallowed piece of real estate at any race track is the Winner's Circle, also sometimes referred to as the winner's enclosure and the charmed circle. Oddly enough, ours is not, and never has been, a…
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Peguis First Nation – Manitoba Jockey Club Announces Joint Venture
3975 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3K 2E9 Phone: (204) 885-3330 Fax: (204) 831-5348 Email: info@fndevelopments.ca Peguis First Nation - Manitoba Jockey Club Announces Joint Venture For Immediate Release December 19, 2013 Winnipeg, MB -- Assiniboia Downs is being revitalized courtesy of a joint venture partnership between Peguis First Nation and the Manitoba Jockey Club.…
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Manitoba pride soars as Goldencents triumphs in Breeders’ Cup World Championships
Chalk up a historic "golden" moment for Manitoba on the world stage of horse racing. [caption id="attachment_3063" align="alignright" width="184" caption="Goldencents! 2013 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner!"][/caption] Goldencents, the 3-year-old colt born to Assiniboia Downs mare Golden Works, crushed 10 rivals in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile-G1 last Friday in the Breeders' Cup…
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