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To launch our 50th season of live racing, we are so pleased to have with us this Friday the jockey who rode the winning horse in the first-ever race held at Assiniboia Downs. Today Dick Armstrong is 68. But, back then, he was an 18-year-old apprentice rider who guided Gold Ern through the mud to victory on the grand opening day of this race track on June 10, 1958. He will be at the starting gate in Race 1 at 7 p.m., not as jockey, of course, but as the guest starter of this important milestone in Assiniboia Downs' history. His finger will push the starting gate button. Assiniboia Downs welcomes him and thanks him for helping us kick off our golden anniversary in grand, historical style.
Dick will be available to autograph this program or other memorabilia from 8 to 8:30 p.m. in the main floor lobby.
George Richard “Dick” Armstrong began his riding career at Edmonton's
Exhibition Park at the young age of 16. Taking up the family business – both hisfather and grandfather were riders – was something he always wanted to do. His first win was aboard Bat N' Ball on June 10, 1957.
A year later would find Dick Armstrong in Winnipeg for the grand opening of
what was touted as the Greatest Racetrack in Western Canada, Assiniboia
Downs. “It was a muddy mess,” said Armstrong, “one day they got the starting gate stuck and had to start all of the races in the same place.” The young native of Maple Creek, Saskatchewan took the first race of the inaugural season – a mile race – aboard Gold Ern for owner Mrs. D. E. Robertson of Edmonton. And the rest is history.
Dick Armstrong went on to win a total of four leading jockey titles in 1962, 1964,1965 and 1967 at Assiniboia Downs. He made the yearly circuit between Woodbine in Toronto in the spring, Assiniboia Downs for the summer and go back to Woodbine in the fall. He rode against some of the greats like of Johnny Longdon, Bill Shoemaker and Ron Turcotte, who later rode Secretariat to Triple Crown victories. “Ron was only a bug boy at the time,” Armstrong said. Armstrong even beat the great Northern Dancer in the Cup and Saucer Stakes at Woodbine in 1963 aboard Grand Garcon. Northern Dancer went on to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Queen's Plate in 1964.
Armstrong continued to ride at Assiniboia Downs until 1969 when Gardner Farmslured him to Toronto by asking him to be their contract rider, but not before he captured the 1969 Manitoba Derby astride Fire N' Desire. His victory in the Manitoba Derby was a thrill and Armstrong still holds it as one of his biggest.
After a spill at Woodbine where he lost one of his kidneys, Dick stopped riding in 1971. He quickly stepped into the job of horse trainer at Stampede Park in Calgary. As a trainer he kept up with friendships he made while at Assiniboia Downs and when asked by trainer Clayton Gray to look after a promising sprinter coming back from an injury, Incorporator, he said he would be glad too. The horse was able to take advantage of the shorter distances at Stampede Park.
Incorporator won two races including the Lac Des Arcs Stakes for Dick before he was sold to new owners that sent him further west to Seattle. Incorporator went on to win the Longacres Mile, one of the premiere races on the West coast for older horses. “Incorporator was definitely the best horse I ever trained,” said Armstrong.
Dick retired from training in 1981 and has spent the last 20 years on staff with Edmonton's Northlands Park. He has been a Clerk of Scales and now is a timer during their harness meet and custodian of the jockey's room for their
thoroughbred season.
Assiniboia Downs is honoured to welcome back Dick Armstrong as we celebrate our 50th anniversary and are thrilled that he has agreed to be our guest starter for the first race of the next fifty years. |
