Training camp at Assiniboia Downs will open Thursday, signalling the start to the 55th season of training at the Winnipeg-area horse race track.
The race season will officially begin Sunday, May 6 — a day after the Kentucky Derby.
“We are essentially the first sport in Manitoba to open training camp,” said CEO and race announcer Darren Dunn. “We expect approximately 100 horses to be on-site ready to start galloping on our training track or using our unique indoor Equiciser. They come from local farms in the province. That should quickly grow to about 300 local horses by the end of March before horses start to be shipped in from across Canada and the United States. This influx will see our stable area grow to approximately 750 horses for the start of our live race season.”
More than $1 million in stakes races will be featured throughout the season, the highlight of which will be the $75,000 Manitoba Lotteries Derby on the first Monday in August.
