[caption id="attachment_13802" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] One of Carl Anderson's four Gold Cup wins at ASD. Secret Cipher. August 28, 1983.[/caption] by Bob Gates Carl Anderson was only 13 years old when Assiniboia Downs opened in 1958, but it didn't take him long to find his way to the Portage Avenue track. Right from the "get-go" young…
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The Greatest Race That Never Was
[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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A little Magic and a lot of Bull
[caption id="attachment_7804" align="alignnone" width="780"] Balooga Bull defeats archrival Magic D 'Oro in the 2014 Gold Cup at ASD.[/caption] by Bob Gates with George Williams photos The Downs' historic 60th Season of thoroughbred racing winds up this Sunday, September 10 and what a year! I've been doing these blog stories for the past six seasons of…
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Philip Kives, Master of K5 Stables – A Tribute
[caption id="attachment_5380" align="alignright" width="390"] Phil Kives with Island Fling in 1978.[/caption] by Bob Gates Much has been written about the president and founder of K-tel International since his unexpected death on April 27, 2016. Today we leave the world of the Miracle Brush, Veg-O-Matic, Teflon Fry Pan, Patty Stacker and records like "Hooked on Classics"…
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The man they call “Hank”
[caption id="attachment_3992" align="alignright" width="270"] Merry's Jay wins Manitoba Derby. August 2, 1976. Ken Hendricks up for trainer Clayton Gray.[/caption] by Bob No one has ridden more winners at Assiniboia Downs than the man they call "Hank". Ken Hendricks sits atop the Downs' leader board with 1,666 trips to the Winner's Circle. A quick scan of…
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Pool to Market and Bobby Stewart, magic in the 1967 Gold Cup
[caption id="attachment_3814" align="alignright" width="270"] Pool to Market digs in to win the 1967 Gold Cup at Assiniboia Downs.[/caption] by Bob On August 5, 1967 the stars above Assiniboia Downs aligned perfectly for rider Robert Roy "Bobby" Stewart and his chestnut charge Pool to Market, and the pair put on a fabulous show for the 5,000-plus…
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Balooga Bull wins second consecutive Assiniboia Downs Gold Cup, silences critics
[caption id="attachment_2931" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Balooga Bull roars home to win 2013 Assiniboia Downs Gold Cup."][/caption] by George Paul Brandt’s Balooga Bull silenced all naysayers with his second consecutive victory in the $50,000 Assiniboia Downs Gold Cup on Saturday night, becoming only the sixth horse in 56 years to win the prestigious race in back-to-back…
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Speed and class prevail in championship stakes at ASD
[caption id="attachment_1635" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Balooga Bull and groom Richard Spencer are all smiles after winning the 2012 Gold Cup at ASD."][/caption] by George There’s no question that the highlight of the past weekend at Assiniboia Downs was Balooga Bull demolishing his opposition in the 55th running of the $50,000 Gold Cup on Saturday night. The…
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Balooga Bull highlights Championship Weekend at ASD
[caption id="attachment_1623" align="alignright" width="270" caption=""You go this way an I'll go that way and I'll meet you at the finish." Crazy things can happen on Championship Weekend!"][/caption] by Rob The second last weekend of live racing will highlight four of the final five stakes races of the year. These four races will determine divisional honors…
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