Blog

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…

  by Bob Gates Welcome to the second in our five-part series devoted to the 70th Running of the Manitoba…

by Bob Gates The Manitoba Derby is a month away and what better time to look back at the history…

by Bob Gates This week's blog story is a departure from our usual tale of yesteryear.  In the early 1970s…

by Bob Gates G. Sydney Halter was the fledgling Canadian Football League's (CFL) top boss from 1958 to 1966. As…

by Bob Gates Imagine yourself exploring central Africa much like Henry Morton Stanley in search of missionary and explorer David…

by Bob Gates Owner, trainer, philanthropist. Now there are three words you don't usually see together, at least not in…

by Bob Gates With this year's Preakness in the books, Justify and jockey Mike Smith are busy preparing their bid…

by Bob Gates On the evening of Friday August 30, 1946, old Polo Park looked more like Satan's Hell than…

From World War ll Concentration Camp to 1958 Leading Jockey Title at the Downs by Bob Gates As a young…

by Bob Gates Everyone's talking about the Kentucky Derby and Mothers' Day is just around the corner. You know what…

Night School Handicapping Video courtesy of Jeremy Plonk and his Handicapping Team at HorsePlayerNow.com  Approaching a Day at The Races You should always do some…

Night School Handicapping Video courtesy of Jeremy Plonk and his Handicapping Team at HorsePlayerNow.com  Marking the Past Performances Once you understand the data and the…

Night School Handicapping Video courtesy of Jeremy Plonk and his Handicapping Team at HorsePlayerNow.com  Part 2 of an extensive lesson…

Night School Handicapping Video courtesy of Jeremy Plonk and his Handicapping Team at HorsePlayerNow.com  An extensive lesson on how to…

by Bob Gates with George Williams photos The Downs' historic 60th Season of thoroughbred racing winds up this Sunday, September…

by Bob Gates This week we look back at the unlikely beginnings of one of the most consistent and capable…

by Bob Gates There is nothing sweeter than the memories evoked by one of God's majestic creations - the thoroughbred…

by Bob Gates When Sir Winston Churchill said that "there's something about the outside of a horse that's good for…