Favourites, fit horses, bugs and women dominate at Downs on opening day

JanineSmithGetsAHug

  Crowd loud under sunny Manitoba skies as jockettes take 5 of 8 races by George Favourites, fit horses, bugs and women dominated the opening day card at Assiniboia Downs on Sunday, May 5, under the sunniest skies we’ve seen this spring in Manitoba. Bug girl Janine Smith won the first race of the 2013 season [...]

Speed and class prevail in championship stakes at ASD

BaloogaBullSmilesGoldCup

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 time for the race wasn’t fast, 1:51.80 for the 1 1/8-miles, but he did it the hard way and he still laid [...]

Danger Rules Wires Frank Arnason Field, Carryover Pick-4 Weighed Down by Favourites

Robert Reeves Jr. winner of the 2012 Frank Arnson Sire Stakes, with agent Tim Gardiner

by George The Frank Arnason Sire Stakes probably wasn’t as close as it looked and the Pick-4 still paid decent despite being weighed down by favourites on a beautiful Saturday afternoon of racing at ASD. Heavily favoured Danger Rules went to the lead early in the $30,000 Frank Arnason Sire Stakes and set all the [...]

Longshot Plus Ultra Wins Chantilly Stakes, Sets Up $4,364 Carryover for Saturday Pick-4

by George Plus Ultra made all the running under jockey Tyrone Nelson to win the $30,000 Chantilly Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Friday night at the Downs and made sure there were no winners in the Pick-4 when she paid $26.90 to win. Opening a short lead early, Plus Ultra gradually increased her comfort level [...]

She’s Regal Wins $25,000 Hazel Wright Sire Stakes, Rarick Continues Hot Streak with Longshot

2012 Hazel Wright Sire Stakes Winner She's Regal ASD

by George She’s Regal lived up to her favoured status in the $25,000 Hazel Wright Sire Stakes on a gorgeous Saturday night at Assiniboia Downs and trainer Wade Rarick continued his hot streak with a longshot in the last. Opening a short but clear lead early on the backstretch in the third race Sire Stakes [...]

ASD Pick-4 pays $6,800, 10-pound bug wins two foul claims

Trainer Aaron Sayler. Good with fillies and mares.

by George Trainer Aaron Sayler saddled the longshot of the night in an ASD Pick-4 that paid $6,800.60 and a 10-pound bug named Belle lodged two claims of foul against veteran jockeys and won. It was that kind of night at the Downs. The Pick-4 started off with a bang when first time starter Our [...]

Overcast skies turn to sunshine on opening day at ASD as longshot kicks off Pick-4

Mining Town in wins the 8th race at Assiniboia DOwns on opening day Sunday, May 6, 2012 for trainer Tom Gardipy.

by George Plus Ultra won the first race on opening day at Assiniboia Downs, the Don Gray Memorial, in front of an excellent crowd that arrived under cloudy skies and departed in sunshine — especially those who bet the longshot winner of the fourth race. Rohan Singh rode the $5 winner of the first race, [...]