Free workshops resume tonight at 7 p.m. Topic: How to handicap Cal-breds and Florida-breds. Come to the lower level Finish Line at the track at 7 p.m. Why you should care:  $1,000 is at stake in a contest on Sunshine Millions Day, Saturday, Jan. 24 featuring Cal-bred horses vs Florida breds.  Get a leg up at this workshop! Panelists:  Californian Brad Free (Handicapping 101) and David Litfin (Expert Handicapping) are featured on a DVD recorded at a horseplayer expo in Las Vegas last year.  Lively discussion to follow.  Dainties and coffee served.

Challenge:  Make '09 your year to shine! And here's your chance to shine immediately and make some free money to boot! 

Receive this keepsake for a correct prediction

Analyze Race 7 from tonight's Delta Downs program and tell me who you think will win.  THE FIRST TO EMAIL ME THE WINNER RECEIVES $20 IN WAGERING VOUCHERS and every correct entrant will receive a beautiful keepsake Assiniboia Downs 50th anniversary pin!  Another $20 will go to the first entrant who predicts the triactor--the top three finishers in the correct order. Email your answer(s) by 8 p.m. to theinsider@assiniboiadowns.com   (Note:  PLEASE PRINT YOUR ANSWERS IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF YOUR EMAIL.  Example: Subject line:  Winner #12.  Triactor 12-8-4   Only one set of answers per email address, please.  And only one entry per family.

IS YOUR PREDICTION CORRECT?  To watch the above race on TV, go to Shaw 87 or MTS 179-180 at about 9:06 p.m.  Want to bet on the horse you like?  You can do so by opening a telephone account immediately.  Simply go to any off-track betting location and deposit whatever amount you wish into your new account. Want help picking a winner?  Click here to watch a short video. 

Okay, gang, how's that for an energetic start to the new year?  But, to borrow a line from infomercials: "Wait .... there's more!"  Yes, we'll do this again next week. You're welcome.  Now, before I give you my take on the Best and Worst of 2008, here's a pretty good reason to try to get into tomorrow night's poker game in the Clubhouse.

FRIDAY POKER HAS A CARRYOVER

You get $150 cash if you win a hand with 10-Jack suited

This hand could win you $150

You have an extra reason to get your name into the draw to play free Texas hold 'em poker tomorrow (Friday) night.  If you win a hand with 10-Jack suited, you'll get $150 cash to stuff into your pocket.  That's in addition to the $100 in wagering vouchers that go to the winner of the poker game.  Ten seats are at stake!  If you haven't ever tried to get into the game, tomorrow could be your night.  Also, you may be drawn to play the Lightning Round.  Two contestants will get to place as many $2 bets as they can in one minute.  A couple weeks ago the person who went on to earn the title of Zeus, the Lightning Round god (see picture below), made $2,300!  Of course, there's also great racing from Louisiana, Texas, New Jersey, Toronto and Australia, where it's summer.  And finger-lickin' good breaded chicken wings--your choice of sauce--are available to dig into.  Full race schedule. 

IT WAS A "BROWN" YEAR

Best and worst of 2008

Most stirring performances by a horse:  Big Brown's eye-popping wins in the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby despite difficult outside post positions, Curlin winning the $6 million Dubai World Cup, Zenyatta winning the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic, record-breaking 5-year-old mare Peppers Pride exploding from the field to win her 19th straight race.

Most inspiring horse:  Midnight Lute, rebounding from nagging injuries, a lengthy layoff and a terrible race to win the Breeders' Cup Sprint for the second time.

Most inspiring performance by a local horseplayer:   Groom Adam Goss winning back-to-back pick-6 bets last July, picking up $10,000 at Belmont Park followed with $12,000 the next day at Hollywood.  Read more.

Most disappointing and/or tragic events:  Big Brown finishing last in the Belmont Stakes, filly Eight Belles breaking down after taking a freakish misstep after finishing second in the Kentucky Derby, talented but volatile mare Nashoba's Key fracturing a leg in a fractious bout of temper in her outside enclosure.  

Goofiest comment of the year:  PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, suggesting that Curlin be neutered so he is unable to sire fragile horses prone to breakdowns.

Over-reaction of the year:  Following Eight Belles' demise after the Kentucky Derby, commentators saying everything is wrong with racing.  Consensus view of experts:  Over-reliance on drugs in the U.S. is the main reason for problems that don't exist elsewhere. Speed guru Andy Beyer pointed out that in six years of racing on Uruguay's dirt tracks only 30 horses broke down out of 46,701 starters, one-third the U.S. rate.

Worst ride in a significant race:  Kent Desormeaux strangling down Big Brown early in the Belmont Stakes.

Best harness horse in the world:  Somebeachsomewhere from Nova Scotia.

Most exciting local action:  The cat-and-mouse riding rivalry between the granddad of racing, Alan Cuthbertson, and upstart female apprentice, Janine Stianson, until she returned to her native Alberta in late August, allowing Cuthbertson to coast to his third consecutive riding title.

Fan favourite horse in local races:  Vote for your choice in a "People's Choice Awards" contest to be unveiled shortly in Facebook and on the Assiniboia Downs website.

Best new bet:  The Super High-5 which encourages players to analyze how a race will unfold and rewards them handsomely when they are correct in predicting the order of the first five finishers.

Best contest coup by a local horseplayer:  Red River College math prof Jim Roberts beating 2,832 entrants in a free North America-wide online contest to pick a show horse each day at Hollywood Park.  His sharpness earned him $5,000.

LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE

"Sunshine Millions" contest worth $1,000