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Outstanding start at Assiniboia Downs

The live racing season kicked off with a packed awards ceremony, two million-dollar wagering handles and a pair of hat tricks, but we also lost one of the best jockeys in the history of Manitoba racing.

Fans flocked to the track on opening Monday night and along with the folks on the interwebs they pumped $1,097,250 into the wagering pools. It was even better for bettors on Tuesday evening when punters pounded the pools with another $1,265,765.

These are incredible numbers for a small track in the middle of North America, and fans have grown accustomed to what appears to be business as usual, but it has taken tons of work over a period of many years by ASD CEO Darren Dunn, Vice-President of Finance and Gaming Sharon Gulyas, and their executive team, to make it happen.

Kudos to the Downs’ team for its fabulous work, which not only allows bettors to punt with both hands without changing the odds, but that has also been the main driver behind the resurgence of the local breeding industry. Not only are horse people buying better broodmares, they’re also buying higher-class racehorses to compete locally, and more of them.

Another exciting season of thoroughbred racing kicks off Monday at Assiniboia Downs

And they’re off! Oops, sorry, we broke through the gate!

They’re not quite off yet, but they will be in two days, and dreams will spring from the starting gate the same way they always have since June 10, 1958, at Assiniboia Downs.

The 66th season of live horse racing goes to post at Assiniboia Downs on Victoria Day, Monday May 22, at 7:30 p.m. with 52 horses in seven races, followed by 50 more frisky equines in the same number of races on Tuesday evening.

The first two weeks of the 50-day meeting will feature live racing on Monday and Tuesday, which then switches to Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday until the final week of the meet on September 18 and 19.

‘We want to try a normal life’

The worst year in their lives is getting better.

New Assiniboia Downs grooms Tetiana and Ilona (who asked their last name not be used) are a long way from their homes in Ukraine. They’re loving Canada, but they miss their homeland. Tetiana got out of Ukraine relatively early in the war. Ilona wasn’t so lucky.

The pair of highly educated 20-something Ukrainians arrived in Canada in February, searched for online training programs, and found the groom-training program sponsored by the Manitoba government. They’ve been at the track for four weeks now and share responsibility for looking after seven horses in trainer Devon Gittens’ barn.

Tetiana is from Odesa, Ukraine, “spelled with one ‘s’,” said Tetiana. “If Ukrainians see this, they will be very angry if it is spelled with two ‘ss’ because that’s the translation from Russia.” Odesa is 443 km south Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. Ilona is from Mariupol, one the cities in Ukraine’s southeast that was obliterated by Russian bombs.

Williams feted by Canadian horse-racing community

Free Press horse-racing columnist George Williams is in the winner’s circle — again.

Williams nominated for Sovereign Award

George Williams, who provides horse-racing coverage for the Free Press, has been nominated for a prestigious 2022 Sovereign Award in the writing category.

Trainer Jason Servis pleads guilty to drugging his horses

NEW YORK (AP) — Trainer Jason Servis, whose horse Maximum Security was the 3-year-old champion in 2019, pleaded guilty Friday to federal charges involving a widespread scheme to drug horses.

The 65-year-old New Jersey-based trainer faces four years in prison when he is sentenced next May in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. He was the last defendant facing charges in the scheme, and now 23 of the 31 individuals charged have pleaded guilty.

Servis pleaded guilty in connection with his role in the distribution of adulterated and misbranded drugs intended for use on horses in his stable.

“Servis’ conduct represents corruption at the highest levels of the racehorse industry,” Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement. “As a licensed racehorse trainer, Servis was bound to protect the horses under his care and to comply with racing rules designed to ensure the safety and well-being of horses and protect the integrity of the sport.”

Unbeaten Flightline retires, will begin breeding career

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Flightline has been retired and will stand at stud after completing a dominant, unbeaten career capped by Saturday's runaway victory in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland.

The son of Tapit will begin his breeding career next year at the farm in Versailles, Kentucky, Lane’s End Farms announced in a news release Sunday morning.

The 4-year-old bay colt won the 1¼-mile, Grade 1 Classic by a record 8¼ lengths as the 2-5 favorite to cap a 6-0 thoroughbred career. His time of 2:00.05 was just a tick off Authentic's time of 1:59.60 two years ago.

Flightline was virtually unknown until his 19¼-length victory in September’s Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar. His combined victory margin of 62¾ lengths entering the season-ending championships soon drew a lot of attention — along with comparisons to legendary Triple Crown winner Secretariat.

Queen’s Plate winner Moira faces challenge in Breeders’ Cup race

She earned trainer Kevin Attard his first Queen's Plate title earlier this year, but Moira will have plenty of ground to cover to secure her conditioner a Breeders' Cup trophy.

The champion filly will break from the No. 12 post in the US$2-million Filly and Mare Turf event set at 1 3/16 miles Saturday at Keeneland. She'll be one of two Canadian entries in the 12-horse field, with Lady Speightspeare -- owned by Charles Fipke and trained by veteran Woodbine conditioner Roger Attfield -- starting from the No. 1 post.

"You can't over-think these things, it's obviously the luck of the draw," Attard said during a telephone interview. "They start right at the bend coming out of the turn so there should be some time to position her.

"Obviously we have a very capable jockey."

Flightline heads Breeders’ Cup Classic; Baffert back in Ky

Undefeated Flightline and Rich Strike, upset winner of the Kentucky Derby, head a field of nine for the Breeders' Cup Classic, with trainer Todd Pletcher pre-entering two horses for the $6 million race that also includes a horse from the barn of embattled trainer Bob Baffert.

Trained by John Sadler, Flightline is 5-0 in his career, winning his starts by a combined margin of 62 3/4 lengths.

“We know we have a really super horse,” Sadler said Wednesday. “The pressure is there because he’s going to be a heavy favorite, but I’ve trained quite a long time and this is the kind of pressure you want.”

The 4-year-old Flightline is coming off a record 19 1/4-length win in his last race, the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Sept. 3.

A season to remember at Assiniboia Downs

Assiniboia Downs ended its 2022 live racing season on a positive note Wednesday as fans bet $2,448,634 and increased the wagering total for the season to $55,326,730, second only to the record wagering of 2020.

Royal silks return as King Charles III’s horse finishes 2nd

SALISBURY, England (AP) — The famous royal silks returned to British horse racing on Thursday, with the first runner under the ownership of King Charles III finishing a distant second at Salisbury.

Educator was the first horse to wear the purple, red and gold silks since the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Sept. 8.

Her oldest son and heir, Charles, has taken on the royal stable and Educator was sent off as the 11-10 favorite under jockey Tom Marquand for the Radcliffe & Co Handicap.

Okeechobee won by 4 ¼ lengths in the four-horse race.

Thrill of victory beats a fistful of dollars

With only three live racing days left in the 65th season at Assiniboia Downs, the trainer, jockey and owner races have already been decided, but there’s still one major stakes race for two-year-olds that nobody can predict, and two major mandatory jackpots that anyone could win.

Assiniboia Downs’ top jockey could sweep final three open stakes races

Leading rider Jorge Carreno has a chance to sweep the final three open stakes of the live race meeting at Assiniboia Downs in the 93rd running of the $50,000 Winnipeg Futurity on Monday, and he’ll also have an extra day to increase his overall win total, which currently stands at 59.

Hidden Grace and Melisandre make history running 1-2 in stakes race

History was made at Assiniboia Downs on Wednesday night when sisters Hidden Grace and Melisandre ran 1-2 in the $40,000 Distaff Stakes, and what a run it has been for multiple champion Hidden Grace.

It’s easy to love a horse with heart

A horse with heart is easy to fall in love with.

Jackpots hit on and off the track

Jackpots were hit by more than one person over the past week at Assiniboia Downs, and not just at the betting windows.

Last chance to buy Going Commando yearling

The last Going Commando yearling ever to be sold at public auction goes through the sales ring Sunday, and she’ll carry a piece of Charlie Fouillard with her for the rest of her life. She was bred and born at Fouillard’s farm in St. Lazare, Man., and spent her early days romping around the Fouillard fields with mom.

Preakness-winning trainer charged in domestic violence case

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A prominent New York-based horse trainer whose Early Voting won this year's Preakness Stakes is facing a domestic violence charge for allegedly pushing a woman down a flight of stairs and trying to choke her, authorities said Thursday.

Chad Brown, 43, was arraigned Thursday morning in Saratoga Springs on a charge of obstruction of breathing, a misdemeanor.

Police received a complaint at around 11 p.m. Wednesday from a caller who said “they were in an altercation with Mr. Brown,” Saratoga Springs Police Sergeant Paul Veitch said. Brown was arrested and spent the night in a police holding area pending arraignment.

Assistant District Attorney Kayla Potter told the judge that Brown pushed the woman down the stairs, pinned her to the floor and tried to choke her before throwing her out of the house.

Five-year-old winner of Phil Kives Trial the epitome of class

Assiniboia Downs trainer Carl Anderson is a walking advertisement for the T-shirt slogan ‘Old Guys Rule.’

Enthusiasm carries the day

Telling leading Assiniboia Downs jockey Jorge Carreno he rode last Monday’s Manitoba Derby winner Red Knobs like a girl was probably not a good idea, but when that girl is one of the best jockeys in history…

Red Knobs runs to Derby glory

Jorge Carreno said he could feel the power of his three-year-old thoroughbred as he white-knuckled its reins in the post.

74th running of Manitoba Derby tough to pick

Leading trainer Jerry Gourneau didn’t want his photo taken with Manitoba Derby favourite Prayforpeace on Friday morning, but not for the same superstitious reasons most trainers balk at it.