Tag Archives: Robert James Speers

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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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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Robert James Speers Stakes – The Tradition Continues!

[caption id="attachment_4368" align="alignright" width="270"] 1960 Speers Handicap presentation ceremony (L to R) E. Johanson, Scotty Kennedy, Gene Pederson. Scotty's daughter Joan in front.[/caption] by Bob Sixty years ago this past July 19, Robert James Speers, the "Father of Thoroughbred Horse Racing on the Canadian Prairies" died as a result of a massive heart attack at…
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