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By Scott Taylor
WINNIPEG — Darren Dunn is, generally, a happy guy. This spring, however, with the 2019 Live Racing Season right around the corner, the CEO of Assiniboia Downs has an extra reason to smile.
Despite the fact veterans such as Rohan Singh, Adolofo Morales and Prayven Badrie will not be returning to the Downs this summer, Dunn can assure punters and racing fans that there will be a huge jockey colony at the track this season.
By Scott Taylor
Manitoba’s wonder horse, the five-year-old mare Escape Clause, demonstrated on Sunday afternoon that she’s ready to step into the big time.
In fact, rumours have already begun to circulate that the Manitoba-bred bay mare from breeder Cam Ziprick and Arnason Farms in Russell, was now going to be groomed for the 2019 Breeder’s Cup World Thoroughbred Championships on November 1 and 2, at Santa Anita Park.
By Scott Taylor
The queen of Manitoba racing and likely the province’s most outstanding athlete, Escape Clause, will find out on Sunday how good she really is.
The five-year-old bay mare out of Going Commando by Danger Pay, was bred in Manitoba by Cam Ziprick and Arnason Farms. She was purchased by owners Don Schnell, Barry Arnason and True North Racing in 2015 for $3,792 Cdn.
WINNIPEG — Attendance and wagering at Assiniboia Downs were both way up to mark the track’s 61st season, which ended Sunday afternoon.
“Without question, it starts with the customers,” said CEO Darren Dunn.
WINNIPEG — Sky Promise was brought into the winner’s circle Monday in a big way, leading the pack to come out as the $75,000 winner at the 70th Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia Downs.
Led by Alberta rider Rico Walcott, he circled the other seven horses in the 1 1/8th mile race to pull away from his stablemate, United Patriot, who had set sharp early fractions. Sky Promise was a slim race favourite and paid $7.20 for a $2 win ticket.
Assiniboia Downs is replacing horses with food trucks, music, craft beer, and local artisans and craft exhibitors next Sunday for its first ever Manitoba Night Market and Festival.
The indoor/outdoor event will give market-goers the chance to try out 18 food trucks and six separate food vendors offering everything from bison sliders and pickerel tacos to Filipino and Japanese cuisine while checking out the wares of local craft-makers and artisans working in glass, wood and recycled products.
Live racing at Assiniboia Downs is in the books for another year and officials couldn’t be happier with how the season ended.
CEO Darren Dunn says the 50-day live racing season, which ended on Sunday, saw a 44 percent increase in wagering per race this season.
The next round of fundraising for a local paralyzed horse jockey is set to begin online.
Alyssa Selman, 29, was racing at Assiniboia Downs on June 27 when her horse stumbled and she was thrown to the ground. She suffered a serious back injury and was rushed into surgery at the Health Sciences Centre the following day.
Halters of champion horses American Pharoah, Zenyatta and Shaman Ghost will be listed on eBay on August 21.
