Blog

by Bob Gates Like a Timex watch, the Downs takes a licking and keeps on ticking.  The most recent peril…

Milestones & Memories by Bob Gates Welcome to the new "normal" as the Downs makes the final preparations to open…

Secretariat winning the 1973 Kentucky Derby. Photo courtesy of KentuckyDerby.com While most sports are quiet these days, there are major…

by Bob Gates This year's Winnipeg Futurity marks the 90th running of the prestigious race for 2-year-olds, which makes it…

by Bob Gates Where does the time go? June 10, 2019 marked the 50th anniversary of the death of John Wright…

by Bob Gates Life in Saskatoon grew to be a bore and at times even a nightmare for young Joan…

by Bob Gates Not even Looney Tunes with its wascally wabbit has anything on thoroughbred horse racing when it comes…

by Bob Gates Marge and Victor Clare ran one of those typical "Mom & Pop" stables.  Their story is a…

by Bob Gates On Monday, August 5, 2019, the Queen's Cup trophy will make her way to the Assiniboia Downs…

by Bob Gates It's been 50 years since Fire N Desire won the 21st running of the Manitoba Derby. The…

by Bob Gates Polo Park racetrack played host to some of the most historic races in Western Canada including the…

by Bob Gates What's the wackiest injury that resulted in a jockey cancelling his mounts for the day? There aren't…

by Bob Gates When we left off last week's blog story, horse racing's future in Winnipeg looked bleak.  R. J.…

by Bob Gates On Saturday, June 29 "The Speers" celebrates its 60th running, but what most don’t realize is that…

by Bob Gates Following the death of one of the most popular and respected men in the history of thoroughbred…

by Bob Gates "Someday, in the future, when a historian begins to record the story of western racing there will…

by Bob Gates Sunday, May 26 was a typical afternoon on the backside at Assiniboia Downs, after all, horses don’t…

by Bob Gates "A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust…" A catchy start for telling…

by Bob Gates The 2019 racing season is loaded with special anniversaries. Last week it was Barbara Jo Rubin and…

by Bob Gates On May 16, 1969, 19-year-old, Barbara Jo Rubin became the first female jockey to win a race…

by Bob Gates The crazy Kentucky Derby is in the books for another year, so you know live racing at…

by Bob Gates November 11, 2018 marks the centenary of "The Great War." Whether you know it as Armistice Day,…

by Bob Gates The end is near! Okay, perhaps that's a little too melodramatic, but this is my final blog…

by Bob Gates Horses that know how to win are the most revered in the sport of horse racing. Every…

by Bob Gates Mays Relic came to Jack and Yvette Hardy's J. Y. Stable as a 5-year-old gelding by Bandit…

by Bob Gates What do you get when you combine seven St. Boniface school teachers, $1,500 and a desire for…

by Bob Gates This week's title may be a little cryptic, but there are many of you who will know…

by Bob Gates Manitoba was celebrating its centenary in 1970 and the owner of Assiniboia Downs, Jack Hardy, wasn't about…

by Bob Gates Imagine, a blog dedicated to all things historical, and this week we travel all the way back…

by Bob Gates It’s been 40 years since Overskate and Robin Platts spanked five innocent foes in 30th running of…