Assiniboia Downs Articles

WINNIPEG — From the first day of racing back in May, it seemed as if there would never be any doubt.

Local horse racing fans will get one extra day of live action at the track. Assiniboia Downs has extended the racing season until Wednesday, September 28.

It was expected to be the best September of racing at Assiniboia Downs in perhaps the long, heralded history of the best little racetrack in Western Canada.

In past years, September was mop-up time at Assiniboia Downs. For most racing seasons, September offered up six race dates over two weeks and a couple of big stakes races, but for most people, school, football and the Jets were starting and a season of horse racing was just about a memory.

WINNIPEG — With 13 race nights remaining at the 2022 Assiniboia Downs thoroughbred meet, there will soon be a coronation.

WINNIPEG — It was a number that remains impossible to ignore. On August 1, 2022, a tiny racetrack in the middle of Canada had $3,523,260 bet on its eight-race card.

WINNIPEG — Robbie Nokes once worked in the jocks’ room at Assiniboia Downs. Monday night, he was handed the Manitoba Derby Trophy.

Considering how he got here, Prayforpeace has to be the odds-on favourite to win the 74th running of the Manitoba Derby on Monday night.

WINNIPEG — Assiniboia Downs jockey Jorge Carreno is what one might call, “self-aware.” As a veteran of more than 20 years on the back of a racing thoroughbred, Carreno knows there is a lot more to winning horse races than confidence or dumb luck.

WINNIPEG — Assiniboia Downs CEO Darren Dunn has always been somewhat of an optimistic guy. After 40 years at the track, he’s experienced all the highs and suffered through all the lows and there really isn’t much left to surprise.

Jockeys are professional athletes. It’s unlikely anyone could come up with a coherent argument to claim they aren’t.