[caption id="attachment_17390" align="alignright" width="1000"] The "Old Man" says goodbye to season #65 at ASD. And remembers 1962.[/caption] by Bob Gates With only three days of "Live" left in 2022 Season, the 65th at ASD, we caught up with the portly old man who can usually be seen sitting on one of the benches closest to…
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Remembering Dick Armstrong and His Family’s Home Away From Home
[caption id="attachment_15853" align="alignright" width="1000"] Fire N Desire wins 1969 Manitoba Derby. Dick Armstrong up.[/caption] by Bob Gates Let's celebrate a Diamond Jubilee, shall we? This year marks the 60th anniversary of jockey George Richard "Dickie" Armstrong's first leading-rider title (1962) at Assiniboia Downs. The Maple Creek, Saskatchewan native would go on to top the Downs…
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Assiniboia Downs: Eight Decades and Counting
by Bob Gates "And Now for Something Completely Different" was a catchphrase from the British television comedy series Monty Python's Flying Circus, and it just happens to be perfect for this week's blog. This isn't your typical history story, at least it's not what you've grown accustomed to. What we have this week is an…
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Tommy Stadnyk – The kid from Winnipeg’s North End that done good, real good.
[caption id="attachment_13676" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Bocage wins Manitoban Handicap at ASD. July 28, 1962. Tommy Stadnyk up. Mrs. Jack Hardy on the right. Mrs. John McDiarmid, wife of former Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, on left.[/caption] by Bob Gates Jockey Tommy Stadnyk "… has broken his legs twice, has broken both wrists, his collarbone 'many times' and…
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Fire N Desire’s 1969 Derby “Orbit” Turns 50!
[caption id="attachment_10473" align="alignright" width="1000"] Fire N Desire. 1969 Manitoba Derby.[/caption] by Bob Gates It's been 50 years since Fire N Desire won the 21st running of the Manitoba Derby. The recent media flood of documentaries reminds us of another event that shares this anniversary. Fire N Desire's July 19, 1969 Derby romp took place on…
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Dude, Where’s My Car? At Assiniboia Downs!
[caption id="attachment_4114" align="alignright" width="270"] "Dude, where's my car?"[/caption] by Bob Ashton Kucher's 2000 comedy film was set in the '60s when he "lost" his car in the Downs' parking lot? Uhm… No! But, in the early days of Assiniboia Downs there were always large crowds and that meant cars, hundreds of cars, and a parking…
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Max Freed Plays “Let’s Make a Deal” with Monty Hall
[caption id="attachment_3259" align="alignright" width="270"] Fort Garry in the Winner's Circle, September 11, 1948.[/caption] by Bob Before telling you about this Manitoba racing icon's deal with TV game show host Monty Hall, let me give you some background on one of the greatest and well-known local horseman, Max Freed. Max was born to David and Tilley…
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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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A Derby Tale Out of This World
[caption id="attachment_1191" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Fire N Desire wins 1969 Manitoba Derby"][/caption] by Bob On Monday, August 6, the Manitoba Derby will celebrate its 64th running, but this past July 19 marked the 43rd anniversary of what might have been the best ever Derby run at Assiniboia Downs – one that was just out of this…
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