[caption id="attachment_16726" align="alignright" width="800"] Jockey Paul Nolan and Balooga Bull after winning the 2014 Gold Cup.[/caption] by Bob Gates There's a common thread that links books written to honour champions of the past and our humble blog stories. Both remember special equines from the early days of the Winnipeg racing scene who have long since…
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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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Balooga Bull becomes first horse in history to win three consecutive Gold Cups at Assiniboia Downs
[caption id="attachment_4035" align="alignright" width="270"] Balooga Bull powers away to win $50,000 Gold Cup Saturday night. Paul Nolan up.[/caption] by George Balooga Bull became the first horse in the history of Assiniboia Downs to win three straight Gold Cups on Saturday night and he did it the hard way, forcing a suicidal pace before powering away…
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Master Lightning – 2014 Manitoba Derby Contenders
[caption id="attachment_3768" align="alignright" width="270"] Master Lightning has that look in his eyes.[/caption] by George If winning the Manitoba Derby was based solely on the company you kept, Master Lightning would be tough to beat. The royally-bred stakes-placed son of Bluegrass Stakes-G1 winner Pulpit had been running competitively against the best 3-year-olds in North America until…
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Balooga Bull, Edison, pushed to defeat game rivals in Wheat City, Harry Jeffrey Stakes
[caption id="attachment_3634" align="alignright" width="270"] Balooga Bull gets a pat from jockey Paul Nolan.[/caption] by George Balooga Bull brought his "A" game for the Wheat City Stakes, Jet Again did the same in the Harry Jeffrey Stakes, and Paul Nolan won half of the eight races in front of a large appreciative crowd on Wednesday night…
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Magic D’ Oro gets best of “Bull” in Free Press, La Verendrye, Triple Crown bid on tap
[caption id="attachment_3438" align="alignright" width="270"] Magic D' Oro draws away from Balooga Bull to win 2014 Free Press Stakes.[/caption] by George Magic D' Oro let champion Balooga Bull have things all his own way in the $30,000 Free Press Stakes at Assiniboia Downs on Friday night, and still beat him. In fast time. Balooga Bull went…
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Chalky Pick-4 results in many winners, but losers impress
[caption id="attachment_3406" align="alignright" width="270"] Desert Lightning (5) gets up to defeat a gutsy Media Contact (4) in the 7th race on Friday night.[/caption] by George Three favourites and a second choice made for slim pickings in the Pick-4 on Friday night at the Downs, but there were some excellent horse and jockey performances to take…
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Balooga Bull wins 2014 debut impressively, Pick-4 pool swells to over 23k
[caption id="attachment_3340" align="alignright" width="270"] Balooga Bull wins his 2014 debut at the Downs. Paul Nolan up.[/caption] by George Reigning Champion Older Horse Balooga Bull made his 2014 debut a winning one, jockey Paul Nolan and trainer Ardell Sayler each scored a hat trick, and the Pick-4 pool swelled to over $23,000 with the help of…
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Sayler puts on show as fans pack Downs for Mother’s Day weekend
[caption id="attachment_3296" align="alignright" width="270"] Mother's Day 2014 at the Downs[/caption] Trainer Ardell Sayler put on quite a show, the weather co-operated beautifully, and the fans packed the house for Mother's Day live racing weekend at the Downs. It was clear that people thoroughly enjoyed getting out of the house after one of the longest, coldest…
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The Rob’s, Questions Answered, Questions Posed
[caption id="attachment_3028" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Assembly Hall wins 2013 Manitoba Derby. Alex Canchari up."][/caption] by Rob The 2013 race meet was highlighted by a group of horses that dominated their respective divisions. It was an absolute honour to watch these horses dominate each group. The memories roll back of Balooga Bull’s comeback, of Zdeno’s Futurity and…
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