Horse Racing

Horse Racing

Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo Chief Murray Clearsky (centre) presents the championship trophy to 2026 leading Assiniboia Downs trainer Jerry Gourneau, with his wife Lyn Blackburde.

A dozen straight titles for Indigenous trainers at Downs

GEORGE WILLIAMS 6 minute read Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

THAT’S a wrap!

The 69th season of live racing at Assiniboia Downs came to a close on Wednesday and for the 12th consecutive year the training title was won by an Indigenous horseman.

Trainer Jerry Gourneau of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa in North Dakota won his sixth trainer title at the Downs with a record of 54-45-43 from 280 starts and purse earnings of US$559,191.

And for the eighth straight year, Gourneau’s main owner, former champion race car driver Henry S. Witt, Jr. won the owner title at the Downs. He compiled a record of 46-41-40 from 242 starts and purse earnings of US$535,983.

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Horse Racing

Jason Halstead /Assiniboia Photo Pumpkin Princess (4), a 41-1 shot, with jockey Nathan Haar wins the sixth race at Assiniboia Downs on Wednesday, triggering a big payout for one lucky bettor.

Longshot triggers massive payout for second straight week

GEORGE WILLIAMS 5 minute read Preview

Longshot triggers massive payout for second straight week

GEORGE WILLIAMS 5 minute read Friday, Sep. 25, 2026

Christmas came early for one lucky bettor at Assiniboia Downs on Wednesday, but it was more like Halloween for owner/trainer Robert Haar.

Haar had three horses in the sixth race and won it with 41-1 shot Pumpkin Princess, triggering a massive payout on the 20-cent ASD Jackpot Pick 5 for the second week in a row.

The Pick 5 only pays out the entire pool when there is a single winning ticket, which is rare. But last week, one lucky bettor had the lone winning combination, resulting in a windfall of $53,443.36.

Normally it takes weeks or even months to build the pool back up after someone scoops it, but punters saw the big payoff and quickly pumped the pool full again. This week, the Pick 5 paid even more.

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Friday, Sep. 25, 2026

Horse Racing

Gunnn comes out blazing to claim Gold Cup

Gunnn comes out blazing to claim Gold Cup

GEORGE WILLIAMS 5 minute read Preview

Gunnn comes out blazing to claim Gold Cup

GEORGE WILLIAMS 5 minute read Friday, Sep. 18, 2026

ELSTON Gunnn fired both barrels out of the gate in the 69th running of the $50,000 Gold Cup on a rainy Wednesday evening when wiener dogs were running everywhere at Assiniboia Downs, and likely earned himself a championship in the process.

Named after an early Bob Dylan stage name, the three-year-old gelding by Hollywood Derby (G1) winner Mo Town used his speed early in the 1 1/8-mile race, opening a clear lead under jockey Shavon Townsend and getting a breather for the first half-mile before being pressured by favourite Go Go Boss down the backstretch, through the final turn and all the way to the wire.

No matter how hard he tried, Go Go Boss could not get by for trainer Robertino Diodoro. And while those two were going hoof-to-hoof on the front end through the final turn, 43-1 Saskatchewan-bred Al Reichert, trained by Robert Henson, was making a huge move four-wide on the turn. That set the rivals up for a thrilling stretch battle.

When the smoke cleared, Elston Gunnn was in front by a nose over Go Go Boss, with Al Reichert a head further back in third.

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Friday, Sep. 18, 2026

Horse Racing

GEORGE WILLIAMS PHOTO Groom Christine Reaves with Mechanic Susie in trainer Elton Dickey’s barn.

Mechanic Susie helps turn jockey standings around at Assiniboia Downs

George Williams 5 minute read Preview

Mechanic Susie helps turn jockey standings around at Assiniboia Downs

George Williams 5 minute read Friday, Sep. 11, 2026

Two champions got back up off the mat this week at Assiniboia Downs. One of them was a human.

Antonio Whitehall won four races on Wednesday evening to wrest back the lead in the jockey standings from surging former Hastings Park rider Kerron Khelawan, and he crossed the finish line first in the last five races on the card. Whitehall was disqualified from winning the seventh race aboard Tap the Parlay when that filly caused some unavoidable interference early in the race.

The winners that stood for Whitehall included Neighneigh ($5.50) in the fourth race for trainer Demetris Topouzis; Mechanic Susie ($3.90) in the fifth for trainer Elton Dickey; Betterlucknexttime ($3.80) in the sixth race for trainer Mike Nault; and a nail biter in the seventh aboard Weekendindelmar ($5.00) for trainer Robert Maybin.

No earth-shattering prices in the bunch, but the fact that the three-time ASD riding champion came back with a huge night after being outscored 2-0 by Khelawan and being knocked out of top spot in the standings the night before spoke volumes.

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Friday, Sep. 11, 2026

Horse Racing

GEORGE WILLIAMS Devon Gitten’s assistant trainer Rheco Gittens with Manitoba-bred Mighty Mikee, who handily won the $40,000 J. W. Sifton Stakes at Assiniboia Downs.

Mighty Mikee returns to Assiniboia Downs in grand fashion with 23-length victory

George Williams 5 minute read Preview

Mighty Mikee returns to Assiniboia Downs in grand fashion with 23-length victory

George Williams 5 minute read Friday, Sep. 4, 2026

Mighty Mikee is back, and in a big way.

The grey Manitoba-bred three-year-old won the $40,000 by 23 lengths on Tuesday for trainer Devon Gittens. Not only was his margin of victory the largest in North America on the day, but the time was sizzling fast. He was like the Mighty Mikee of old.

“That brought tears to my eyes,” said breeder Larry Falloon, who co-owns the horse with Anne Champion and McLaren Racing.

Last year’s co-champion CTHS Horse of the Year as a two-year-old off the strength of three wins. including the $40,000 CTHS Sales Stakes and the $40,000 Buffalo Stakes, Mighty Mikee was transferred to the barn of another trainer for the start of this season. After finishing last twice and second last once, he was transferred back to Gittens.

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Friday, Sep. 4, 2026

Horse Racing

George WIlliams Breeder Larry Falloon and Cindy Lukianchuk with sales topper, Hip #32, a half-sister to local champion Mighty Mikee, by Nonios, who sold for $24,000 to Anne Champion on Thursday.

Speculating steals show at Yearling Sale

George Williams 5 minute read Preview

Speculating steals show at Yearling Sale

George Williams 5 minute read Friday, Aug. 21, 2026

Nonios sired the sales topper at the annual Manitoba CTHS Yearling Sale on Thursday at Assiniboia Downs, but it was Speculating who stole the show.

A total of 45 yearlings went through the sales ring this year compared to 40 last year, and 26 were sold for an average price of $9,292.31 and total receipts of $241,600. Last year 21 yearlings were sold for an average of $10,407 and total receipts of $218,550. Twelve yearlings failed to reach their reserve price this year and seven were buybacks.

The sales topper was Hip #32, a half-sister to local champion Mighty Mikee, by Nonios out of the mare Piccadilly Line, who was consigned by breeder Larry Falloon and purchased by Anne Champion for $24,000. The next two highest prices went to sons and daughters of Speculating.

Hip #18, a gelding out of multiple champion mare Hidden Grace was purchased by Cam Ziprick for $21,000, and Hip #47, a full sister to Circle the Bird, was purchased for $20,500 by the owners of that recent stakes winner, Scott MacKenzie and Madison Leonard. Next in line was Hip #7, a colt by Following Sea out of a half-sister to Marine Stakes (G3) winner Brachetto, consigned by Dr. Ross and Brend McKague and Sharra Sage, and purchased by Don Danard for $20,000.

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Friday, Aug. 21, 2026

Horse Racing

Ross McKague photo Catawba joins 47 others that will be offered in the yearling sale at the sales pavilion in the Assiniboia Downs backstretch at 3:30 on Thursday.

All eyes on Brachetto ahead of Downs’ yearling sale

GEORGE WILLIAMS 5 minute read Preview

All eyes on Brachetto ahead of Downs’ yearling sale

GEORGE WILLIAMS 5 minute read Friday, Aug. 14, 2026

While Brachetto is at Woodbine attempting to become the first Manitoba-bred horse to win the King’s Plate on Saturday, a yearling colt out of his winning half-sister Aramon will be busy preparing to strut his stuff in the annual Manitoba CTHS Yearling Sale on Thursday.

And whether his famous relative wins or loses the 167th running of the $1-million event, he is sure to attract much attention.

Owned and bred by Manitoba veterinarian Dr. Ross McKague and wife Brenda, Brachetto became one of three Manitoba-breds to win a graded stakes when he claimed the Marine Stakes (G3) at Woodbine on June 27. The others were million-dollar earner and 2018 Canadian Champion Older Mare Escape Clause, bred by Cam Ziprick and Arnason Farms, and Misty Drone, bred by Phil Kives, who won the 1986 Comely Stakes at Aqueduct in New York.

Named Catawba, Brachetto’s relative is Hip no.7 in the yearling sale, and joins 47 others that will be offered at 3:30 on Thursday at the sales pavilion in the Assiniboia Downs backstretch. There will be others attracting attention too, including Hip #12, a half-brother to Escape Clause by Speculating; Hip #18, who is out of multiple champion mare Hidden Grace, and also sired by Speculating; and Hip #34, a gelding named No Bro by top Manitoba sire Nonios out of local overnight stakes winner Purrsistent.

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Friday, Aug. 14, 2026

Horse Racing

JASON HALSTEAD / ASSINIBOIA PHOTO Dane Nelson celebrates after winning the Manitoba Derby on Monday aboard Western Warrior.

Western Warrior’s win should have come as no surprise

George Williams 5 minute read Preview

Western Warrior’s win should have come as no surprise

George Williams 5 minute read Friday, Aug. 7, 2026

THERE were so many reasons for Western Warrior to win the 78th Manitoba Derby on Monday that the price made no sense.

The morning line favourite paid $18.10, $10.70 and $6.80 across the board. Quarry, who ran second at 27-1, had been turned back in his previous start and came again anyway. He was live to anybody who watched that replay. The $1 Exactor came back $211.35.

Look at what was in front of the bettors. A trainer with a long list of good horses behind him. Hall of Fame connections among the owners and the help. A jockey with six riding championships. A devoted groom. And a pedigree that belongs in the big races.

The signs were everywhere.

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Friday, Aug. 7, 2026

Horse Racing

GEORGE WILLIAMS PHOTO Nellie Kennedy, Manitoba Minister of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism, speaks to a packed crowd at Assiniboia Downs during the Press Conference for the 78th running of the $125,000 Manitoba Derby on Friday, as Downs CEO Darren Dunn watches from the background with the trophies. Manitoba’s signature race goes Monday evening.

Plenty of good money to be made at Manitoba Derby

GEORGE WILLIAMS 5 minute read Preview

Plenty of good money to be made at Manitoba Derby

GEORGE WILLIAMS 5 minute read Friday, Jul. 31, 2026

The 78th running of the $125,000 Manitoba Derby is nearly upon us, and the house will be packed on Monday evening at Assiniboia Downs for the biggest race of the year. And it’s not just the Derby people are coming for.

Monday’s racing card features a mandatory payout on the ASD 20-cent Jackpot Pick 5, which currently has a carryover of $476,656 that could swell to $2 million by post time.

Nine of the best three-year-olds in Canada have been entered for Manitoba’s signature race, and we have to agree with what track announcer Kirt Contois said at the Derby press conference on Friday: “This is one of the strongest fields ever assembled for our local Derby.”

Almost long gone are the days when you could buy or claim a potential Derby horse for $20,000 and win. It can happen, but a number of horses in this year’s Derby are coming out of races where you’d have to pay at least $100,000 to buy the winner. And even that wouldn’t guarantee success.

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Friday, Jul. 31, 2026

Horse Racing

Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo Jockey Ciera Pruitt and Bromeo (inside) hold off Silver Spiced to win the Frank Arnason Sire Stakes on Tuesday at ASD.

Sweet sendoff for apprentice jockey

5 minute read Preview

Sweet sendoff for apprentice jockey

5 minute read Friday, Jul. 24, 2026

Three outside smoothies and a crunchy ride up the rail in the $40,000 Frank Arnason Sire Stakes on Tuesday vaulted apprentice jockey Ciera Pruitt into the top 10 at Assiniboia Downs for the first time this year.

The crunch came first. And she won’t be here much longer.

Pruitt led all jockeys on the week with four victories, the first coming aboard Manitoba-bred Bromeo in the 39th running of the Frank Arnason, for her mother, trainer Lise Pruitt. Bromeo and Pruitt duelled from the inside throughout and prevailed after a long, tight drive up the rail to take home the $24,000 winner’s share of the purse for longtime owner/breeder Barry Arnason.

“I just got really lucky, honestly,” said Pruitt. “Everything kind of fell into my hands. God was looking after me this week and it all worked out in my favour.”

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Friday, Jul. 24, 2026

Horse Racing

Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo Jockey Sven Balroop wins the 7th race on Wednesday aboard You Vee Cee for trainer Steve Keplin Jr., to move into a tie with Antonio Whitehall for the lead in the Assiniboia Downs jockey standings.

Balroop, Whitehall neck and neck for 2026 Downs riding title

George Williams 5 minute read Preview

Balroop, Whitehall neck and neck for 2026 Downs riding title

George Williams 5 minute read Friday, Jul. 10, 2026

Jockeys Antonio Whitehall and Sven Balroop are waging a great battle for the 2026 riding title at Assiniboia Downs, and both will be aboard some very good horses in next week’s five stakes races. Neither jockey will have a mount in the wiener dog races.

Whitehall rode the longshot of the week to victory in Tuesday’s sixth race, giving Not True a dream trip along the rail behind a duel for trainer Marion Johnston, slipping through on the turn and scoring at 31-1. The Manitoba-bred filly by Nonios paid $64.80, $19.10 and $7.40 across the board, and made her backers jump for joy.

“I saw what was developing up front and adjusted pretty quick,” said Whitehall. “That’s why I dove to the rail and just waited. All the stars aligned.”

Whitehall added another victory Wednesday in the fourth race with Regal Rumor for trainer Mike Nault, putting him one win ahead of Balroop.

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Friday, Jul. 10, 2026

Horse Racing

Michael Burns / Woodbine Photo Brachetto ridden by Ryan Munger (left) takes the Grade 3 Marine Stakes at Woodbine last Saturday.

Manitoba-bred Brachetto stakes his claim as King’s Plate favourite

George Williams 5 minute read Preview

Manitoba-bred Brachetto stakes his claim as King’s Plate favourite

George Williams 5 minute read Friday, Jul. 3, 2026

For the first time in memory, a Manitoba-bred could be one of the favourites for Canada’s most prestigious horse race, the $1-million King’s Plate for three-year-olds, to be run Aug. 15 at Woodbine in Ontario.

Last Saturday, Brachetto, bred by longtime Manitoba owner-breeder Dr. Ross McKague, won the $150,000 Marine Stakes (G3) as the longest shot on the board, beating two heavily favoured rivals and vaulting himself into the Plate favourite conversation for the mile-and-a-quarter classic.

Brachetto is a son of multiple Grade 1 winner Vekoma, who stands for $100,000 at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky. He is out of McKague’s mare Colorino, who earned more than $200,000 on the track and has now produced nine winners from nine foals.

McKague has owned a racehorse for 52 years. He has bred them for 50. He has a barn’s worth of horses that could have been somebody, and a lifetime of reasons why they weren’t. Last Saturday afternoon at Woodbine, standing on a patch of grass under the trees in the winner’s enclosure of a graded stakes for the first time in his life, the 79-year-old finally got the one that was.

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Friday, Jul. 3, 2026

Horse Racing

Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo Elston Gunnn (inside) and jockey Shavon Townsend hold off Prime Suspect and Sven Balroop to win the 50th running of the $50,000 Golden Boy Stakes on Tuesday at Assiniboia Downs.

Elston Gunnn beats the odds as first stakes winner for trainer Birdwell

George Williams 5 minute read Preview

Elston Gunnn beats the odds as first stakes winner for trainer Birdwell

George Williams 5 minute read Friday, Jun. 26, 2026

The big guns won three of the four $50,000 stakes races at Assiniboia Downs this week, but a young trainer named Tena Birdwell shipped in from Canterbury and shook up the Manitoba Derby rankings with an impressive victory in the Golden Boy Stakes.

Birdwell saddled Elston Gunnn for the Golden Boy, and he didn’t get much respect from the punters, who sent him off at odds of 19-1. Owned by Joseph Schumer, the three-year-old gelding by Hollywood Derby (G1) winner Mo Town looked like a turf horse on paper, coming in off second- and third-place finishes going a mile on the turf at Canterbury.

He was also facing the leading Manitoba Derby candidates, including the locally undefeated Prime Suspect and recent Corporate Shuffle Overnight Stakes-winner Truly Unbelievable, conditioned by star trainers Steve Keplin, Jr., and Robertino Diodoro.

Birdwell, who turned 31 the day before she spoke to the Free Press, has been training only since 2019. A horsewoman from the start, she came up through barrel racing, 4-H and three-day eventing before horse racing took over her life. “Right out of high school I went to the racetrack and started galloping,” she said. “Kind of took off from there.” Elston Gunnn was the first stakes winner of her career.

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Friday, Jun. 26, 2026

Horse Racing

GEORGE WILLIAMS PHOTO Trainer Brian Phillips and his wife Janis with their recent longshot winner Nu Soup for Baby.

Longshot pays off for couple five decades into horse racing

GEORGE WILLIAMS 5 minute read Preview

Longshot pays off for couple five decades into horse racing

GEORGE WILLIAMS 5 minute read Friday, Jun. 19, 2026

HOW much do you get back if you bet $20 win-place on a 39-1 shot? Former Hastings Park trainer Brian Phillips knows.

The 78-year-old conditioner saddled his only horse, Nu Soup for Baby, to drill the field into submission in the third race on Wednesday at the Downs, and led all the wheelbarrow bettors straight to the cashing windows.

Making just his third start of the year under new jockey Kerron Khelawan, who also moved his tack here from Hastings Park, Nu Soup for Baby went right to the front from the start and despite heavy pressure from outside rivals, he had lots left when they turned for home, opening up into the stretch and coasting home to win by 1 1/4-lengths over yet another former Hastings Park horse, Pay My Way.

“I got back $1,100,” said Phillips. “I only had $47 in my HPIBet account, so I bet twenty-twenty on him.”

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Friday, Jun. 19, 2026

Horse Racing

Jason Halstead photo After taking a spill in the fifth race Wednesday night at Assiniboia Downs, jockey Ciera Pruitt came back for her second win of the night in the sixth, this time riding her mother Lise Pruitt’s horse, Bromeo.

Pruitt comes back after hitting the dirt, scores first double of career

George Williams 6 minute read Preview

Pruitt comes back after hitting the dirt, scores first double of career

George Williams 6 minute read Friday, Jun. 12, 2026

It took a Tuesday tornado warning and a face-to-face meeting with the dirt to make the stars align for jockey Ciera Pruitt on Wednesday night at the Downs, but when they did, she finally got her first lifetime win for her mother.

The 23-year-old daughter of trainer Lise Pruitt and former top jockey Jerry Pruitt not only won for her mother, but also won another race earlier on the card for trainer Jason Homer, giving her two victories on the same card after 24 straight losses to start the season. And it couldn’t have happened on a better night — it was also her dad’s 75th birthday.

Pruitt got her first win of the season aboard Preacher’s Secret for Homer in race three, stalking a duel on the turn and rallying outside to win by 2 3/4 lengths after a perfect trip. That would be the exact opposite of what she got on her next mount in the fifth race, Neighneigh, who stumbled twice at the start and sent Pruitt flying hard into the dirt.

Lise Pruitt was in the barn area getting her horse ready for the sixth race when it happened and didn’t see it live.

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Friday, Jun. 12, 2026

Horse Racing

Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo Groom Katie Morris leads Truly Unbelievable and jockey Kimal Santo into the winner’s circle after their victory in the $25,000 Corporate Shuffle Stakes on Tuesday for trainer Robertino Diodoro.

Truly Unbelievable takes Round 1

George Williams 5 minute read Preview

Truly Unbelievable takes Round 1

George Williams 5 minute read Friday, Jun. 5, 2026

Four-time Manitoba Derby-winning trainer Robertino Diodoro served notice that he has another one in his sights when he turned loose Truly Unbelievable on Tuesday night to take the measure of Classico in the $25,000 Corporate Shuffle Overnight Stakes. That was one of four stakes run this week, two of which were won by longshots.

Sent off as the second choice behind Classico, who was impressive in an allowance race win in his previous start, Truly Unbelievable duelled with his rival three-year-old to the stretch before drawing out under jockey Kimal Santo to win by 2½-lengths.

Shipped into the barn of local trainer Rick Wise from Sunland Park in New Mexico a week before the race, Truly Unbelievable had finished a well-beaten fifth in the $100,000 Riley Allison Derby at Sunland Park on Jan. 18, but appeared to be a different horse on Tuesday.

“That was a very tough race, and he had a rough trip,” said Diodoro, speaking from his barn in Texas. “We gave him some time off after that race to mature physically and mentally, and it appears to have done him some good.”

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Friday, Jun. 5, 2026

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