Assiniboia Downs

Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg, Canada was forced to cancel its live race card Tuesday due to concerns over air quality. "Widespread wildfire smoke continues to produce very poor air quality and reduced visibility in and around the City of Winnipeg," according to a statement from the track. "It is expected to clear out of the region overnight." Racing is expected to resume at the track Wednesday with a first post time of 7:30 p.m. CT.

A series of presentations at race tracks across the nation will commemorate the 50th Anniversary of The Jockey Club of Canada, the organization said in a release late Wednesday. Beginning with the Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia Downs on Aug. 7, current Jockey Club of Canada members will be attending various key race days at tracks in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario. The presentation dates and locations include: Aug. 7 at Assiniboia Downs Aug. 26 at Century Mile Aug. 27 at Grande Prairie, Evergreen Park Sept. 12 at Fort Erie...

Assiniboia Downs, Century Mile and Hastings Racecourse have joined forces to create a new Western Canadian Triple Crown debuting in 2023. The series begins with the $125,000 Manitoba Derby Aug. 7, continues with the $200,000 GIII Canadian Derby Aug. 26 and concludes with the $125,000 GIII British Columbia Derby Sept. 16. In addition to $450,000 in purse money, there will be an additional $100,000 bonus should a horse win all three races. "To link a meaningful financial bonus to the already robust purse offerings should only elevate the participation and...

Assiniboia Downs recorded near-record wagering for the 2022 meet, which ended Sept. 28. with the second-highest wagering handle in the track's history. A total of $55,326,730 was wagered over the 50-day meet, which was second only to the amount recorded in 2020. "To conclude this season with the positive results we achieved is a true testament to the team we have out here working for us, and the will and determination of the horse people involved at all levels," said CEO Darren Dunn. "It seemed challenge followed us throughout 2022....

A determination has been reached in the unusual stretch run of Assiniboia Downs Racetrack's fifth race July 20, with no rules found to be violated and no change to the order of finish. The Manitoba Jockey Club (MJC), non-profit operator of Assiniboia Downs, had formally requested that its provincial regulator, the Liquor, Gaming & Cannabis Authority (LGCA), conduct a review after jockey Sheldon Chickeness, aboard King Witt (Five Demon Bag), turned for home approximately five lengths in front before appearing to pull his mount up and allowing much of the...

The Manitoba Jockey Club, operator of Assiniboia Downs Racetrack, has requested that its provincial regulator conduct a review of the fifth race on the track's July 20 card. Jockey Sheldon Chickeness, aboard King Witt (Five Demon Bag), turned for home some five lengths in front in the maiden-claiming event before appearing to pull his mount up. Once passed by the majority of the field, King Witt re-rallied to ultimately finish second. "The unusual nature of the stretch drive from race five last night has caused us to reach out and...

Effective Monday, July 18, 2022, purses at Assiniboia Downs have been increased across the board. The highlights include a 25% increase in maiden special weight races to $20,000 and a 20% hike for open allowance heats for $24,000 while the new minimum purse for 'open' stakes races has been raised to $40,000. "Our community of owners, trainers and jockeys continue to be so supportive of the racing program here," said Darren Dunn, CEO of the Winnipeg, Manitoba-area track. "We are happy to be in a position that we can introduce...

Assiniboia Downs closed the 2021 season with $36,609,401 wagered over the 51-day meet, the second-highest total handle in the track's history behind 2020 figures. Ongoing COVID-19 restrictions limited spectators and some horsemen early, but fans were able to return mid-season and some inter-provincial travel restrictions were loosened for horsemen, also mid-season. Trainer Jerry Gourneau won his third training title in the last four years and jockey Jorge Carreno won the jockey title in his first season at the Winnipeg track. "What another incredible year," said CEO Darren Dunn. "We are...

Assiniboia Downs rounded out its 50-day race meet with total wagering of $63,264,000, eclipsing last year's $12,467,855 for the same number of days. The 2020 average was $1.265 million per program. A new season wagering record was also set. The previous record was set in 1981 when $53,394,913 was wagered during a 135-day race meet. Additionally, the final day of the meet Sept. 15 offered a double mandatory payout-headed by a carryover of $202,319 for the Jackpot Pick 5 and $81,338 for the Jackpot Hi5. The total wagering on the...

Hidden Grace (Going Commando), a Manitoba-bred who had won nine consecutive stakes to start her career, got edged out by her own stablemate in a quest for a perfect 10-for-10 race record in Wednesday night's $25,000 Canada Day S. at Assiniboia Downs. Miss Imperial (Maclean's Music), off as the as the .55-1 favorite, battled through a three-way fight for the lead and then had enough left to hold off the onrushing 1.35-1 Hidden Grace to post a one-length win. The four remaining entrants were scattered nine lengths behind the top...

Hidden Grace (Going Commando), a 9-for-9 Manitoba-bred, will seek a perfect 10th straight stakes victory in her 4-year-old debut Wednesday night in the $25,000 Canada Day S. at Assiniboia Downs. Hidden Grace has raced exclusively in Manitoba (eight starts) and Alberta (one start), with five of her nine stakes victories coming against provincial-bred or sales-restricted company. Essentially, she has wrapped up every single one of her wins by the eighth pole, having never been headed in the stretch. Her breeder and owner partnerships are comprised of some of the same...

The Week in Review, by Bill Finley Arlington Park announced last week that the 2020 meet has been canceled at least through July 5, which hardly came as a surprise. No one was expecting the track to open any time soon. The bigger question for now is: will Arlington ever race again? When Arlington reopened in 1989 after the grandstand was destroyed by a fire, it seemed positioned to be among the most successful tracks in the country for decades to come. Richard Duchossois built a fabulous, grandiose racetrack, one...