GOT A SOLUTION FOR STOPPING THE OIL GUSHER?  Email your solution to The Insider. The prize: Top position in BP, accolades from everywhere in the world and a race-night buffet for two in the Terrace Dining Room.  Note:  The "bring in Superman" idea has already been taken.  That idea is mine.

One of tonight's Fab Five Foods

TONIGHT'S BONUS THRILLS:  $1,500 Cash Grab in the money machine and the $100 Triple Q Challenge. Pick-6 carryover $1,500--begins in race 3.

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And down the stretch they come . . . for the 15,000th time! Track announcer Darren Dunn calls his 15,000th race from the Winners' Circle Friday. It was Race 3, won by Peter Paul 'n Tango, ridden by Larren Delorme. Celebrating in the Winners' Circle after the race below are (from left) Darren's son Jack, Manitoba Jockey Club president Harvey Warner, Darren, his wife Linda, his son Trey and ASD General Manager Sharon Gulyas.

Wanna have thousands kissing your hand or at least wanting to shake it?  Wanna have your name spoken with reverence?  And, at the same time, be making money and other perks for yourself?  Then pay close attention to this rare opportunity, called the Canstar Canada Day Horseplayer Challenge.

Who are you gonna play for?

Your team then gets to keep all the money it makes and each member of your team also receives a free race-night buffet for two in the Terrace Dining Room plus free entry into the month-end Viva Las Vegas horseplayer tournament where you have a chance at shooting for big money in a $1 million tourney in Las Vegas.

But, most of all, you win the accolades of the thousands of people in your area for doing them so proud.

So, are you up for this rare challenge?  If you are, then email contests@canstarnews.com, indicating why you belong on the horseplayer team in your area.  And, of yah, even if your team doesn't win, your team gets to keep the money they make playing the races on Canada Day.  Each team will receive $60 in seed money to play $5 win/place on a horse on six races. The team that accumulates the most money is the big winner.

When you apply to be on a team, indicate the newspaper in your area you will be representing. It will be either The Lance, The Metro, The Times, The Sou'Wester, The Herald or the Headliner.  If you live outside of Winnipeg, you may apply to represent the Headliner in Headlingley.

So submit your email now to contests@canstarnews.com to represent your paper!  Not only will it be an historic chance to shine, it should also make for a memorable Canada Day of fun!

RACES/TOURNEY CANCELLED SATURDAY

But in the past, lightning was part of the colour

Horses return to barn after first race Saturday

"Galvanized by a violent electrical storm and bolts of jagged lightning, Speedy Zephyr ran like a wild horse shattering two Canadian records as he won the Derby by 7 1/2 lengths, completing the nine furlongs in 1:48.  Jockey Herb Hinojosa flew in from New York to ride and he said when the thunder roared, the little colt found another gear."

Now THAT was a different kind of era, wasn't it?. Kind of raises the hair on your neck. Three other Western Canada tracks closed for a day on the weekend as well:  Kamloops in B.C. (flooding), Northlands in Edmonton (snow) and Marquis Downs in Saskatoon (excessive rain)

HORSEPLAYER TOURNEY POSTPONED TO THIS SATURDAY:  The cancellation of races last Saturday means the Viva Las Vegas tournament will be held this Saturday at 7 p.m. instead.  Only those who signed up initially may play; entry refunds will be made to those who are unable to play.  NOTE:  This is also the first Saturday to qualify for a discount for the regular Viva Las Vegas tournament to be held the last Saturday of June.  Predict three winners on the Saturday card.

TRIVIA TEASER:  Name the year in which a race card was cancelled for the very first time ever at ASD because of unsafe riding conditions.  (a) 1958, the year ASD opened  (b) 1962, the year of the Fog Bowl Grey Cup  (c)  1968, the year Trudeau swept into office  (d)  1977, the year TV cameras were first permitted to televise proceedings in the House of Commons.  (See answer at end of column.)

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Happiness is . . . Photo radar relief: Painter Liz Lizon was the lucky person Saturday night to have her photo radar ticket drawn from among 12. The Downs paid $250 of her $278 ticket. That's one down, one to go for her. She says she'll be bringing the other ticket on the last Saturday of June. That one is for more than $400. She said she was nabbed speeding after she had just been fired from her job. Hey, guys, don't get tickets just to test your luck, okay? Triple Q Challenge jackpot win: Veteran player Ray Pearson was the only contest entrant to have predicted three consecutive quinellas Friday night, giving him the entire $450 jackpot plus copious bragging rights.

Hotties of the week  Wednesday to Saturday

Hottest jock:  Larren Delorme (five wins)

Hottest trainers:   Lise Pruitt, Ardell Sayler, Jonathan Nance (two wins each)

Biggest win payoff:  $26.20 Siberian Rosie (Wed., May 26)

Biggest 20-cent superfecta:  $753 (Wed., May 26, Race 5, #6-2-5-3)

COUNTDOWN:  Closing in on milestones

Jockey Rohan Singh:  994 winning rides

Trainer Gary Danelson: 1,092 winning races

Insider's guests: Celebrating race call #15,001 with Darren Dunn (left) in announcer's booth are, from left, Rosemary Johnannson, Kerran Seth, Tanis Trenaman and Otto Wimberger. Thanks to all who submitted comments!

SALUTING WINNERS

Fisherman Evans catches an ace to excel among 77

Fisherman, trap shooter and now poker player extraordinaire, retired salesman Doug Evans emerged victorious from among the largest-ever freeroll poker crowd of 77 players after the races Friday, pairing up his ace on the river to give him the win on the final hand.  He picked up $50 plus $5,000 in extra chips in the July finale that will send someone to Las Vegas.  See latest rankings here.

SATURDAY'S FREEROLL POKER:  Government employee Eleanor McMillan's middle name should be "survivor" after she was down to a final chip then, after ploddingly building up her chip count, survived seven all-in tests by her head-to-head rival.  Poker organizer Rosie called it one of the most exciting duels she's ever seen.  There were 35 players.

SUNDAY'S TWO DOUBLE-POINTS FREEROLL GAMES:  Student and biking enthusiast Robert Meeches made his ASD debut at "daily double" Sunday a winning one.  (Winners on Sunday receive $10,000 in extra chips in the poker finale in July, double the usual amount.  Points are doubled up in all categories in Sunday's games.)   Veteran player and clothing model Irene Hofmann won the second game, the third time she had won an All-In Manitoba Poker League game.  There were 57 players in the first game, 44 in the second.  They start at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.  

LAST WEDNESDAY'S CASH GRAB:  Yoka Harzing $48, Josie Gatien $71 and A. Voisard $106.  There is $500 blowing in the wind to grab at.

UPCOMING EVENTS:  Belmont Stakes goes Saturday

Nothing significant is riding on the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown this Saturday, since neither the winner of the Kentucky Derby or the Preakness will be entered.  But, for Ice Box fans like Darren and me, it will be an opportunity to see how this strong closer who finished second in the Kentucky Derby enjoys stretching out to 1 1/2 miles in this race.

BUNNY AND HER BUDDIES MAKE RARE NIGHT VISIT:  Free Press Night at the Races Saturday will feature a rare twilight appearance of Mitzi, the lionhead bunny, and her other farm buddies plus free pony rides and more for the kids!  Look for bonus coupons in the Free Press to enter a draw for a $500 pampering package courtesy of Travelodge, $1 programs and free tip sheets, too!

ASD IS BIKER-CENTRAL FOR SUNDAY FUND-RAISER:  Bikers who have raised more than a quarter-million dollars for breast cancer research in eight annual events will be taking a scenic highway tour this Sunday--starting and ending at ASD--to raise money to buy a van to

The Downs is supporting  fund-raising bikers Sunday

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TRIVIA TEASER ANSWER:  (d) The first day racing was ever cancelled in the 52-year history of Assiniboia Downs was July 6, 1977. The track was thought to be unsafe that day because of heavy rain the day before.  To think that was the first unsafe track in the track's first 20 years of racing!  I recall my father's favourite days at the races were muddy, rainy days.  And, obviously from the track's early history, the possibility of a cancelled race card would never have entered his mind.