The Inside Track | Issue #163 | Friday, December 20, 2024 | |
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ASD Hours
- Open daily from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
- VLT machines are sanitized between use
ASD Holiday Hours
- Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24 - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Christmas Day, Wednesday, Dec. 25 - Closed
- Boxing Day, Thursday, Dec. 26 - Regular Hours - 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
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ASD 2025 Live Race Dates
- Live racing starts Tuesday, May 13 at 7:30 p.m. Click here for schedule.
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In this edition . . .
- What's happening at the Downs?
- Draws in the VLT Lounge every Friday, Saturday & Sunday
- There's always a Deal at ASD!
- Christmas Buffet - SOLD OUT
- New Year's Eve Dinner and Dance
- AI Handicapping Test #6. Ft. Lauderdale Stakes
- Looking For a Special Photo?
- TravyFootball Week 16
- Wagering, Betting Bonuses & More
- A Snapshot in Time: Springs Best
- Win for the Money Can Do Just That in Ft. Lauderdale
- Civaci, Casse, Top Standings at Woodbine
- A Year in Photos: Canadians Coast to Coast
- Best of Bob: A Racetracker's Night Before Christmas
- Upcoming Events
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Open daily from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. | |
140 VLTs
More VLTs = More Jackpots! See our recent Jackpot Wins below:
Dec. 18 - 5 Times - $1,001
Dec. 18 - Wild Yukon - $1,250
Dec. 17 - Viracocha - $1,120
Dec. 17 - Fudai Panda - $1,574
Dec. 17 - Wild Life Extreme - $1,882
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ASD is the place to be every Friday, Saturday & Sunday night! A Free Draw for $200 Cash plus a chance to Spin the Lucky Wheel to win up to $100! | |
Cash Draws
Spin the Cash Wheel every Friday, Saturday & Sunday: Enter for a chance to spin the lucky Cash Wheel to win up to $100 cash. Draws from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Draws for $200 Cash every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Join us in the VLT Lounge every Friday, Saturday and Sunday for a chance to win $200 cash. The draw for $200 cash will take place at 9 p.m.
Dinner specials, drink specials and a chance to win some cash! It doesn't get any better than that!
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12 Days of Christmas Cash
Enter for a chance to pick an ornament off the Christmas Tree to win up to $100 cash through to Dec. 26. Draws will be made during the afternoon and evening plus complimentary snacks will be served.
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New Year' Eve & New Year's Day Spin to Win Draws
Tuesday, December 31: Enter for a chance to spin the lucky Cash Wheel to win up to $100 cash. Draws will be made throughout the day and evening.
Wednesday, January 1: Enter for a chance to spin the lucky Cash Wheel to win up to $100 cash. Draws will be made throughout the day and evening.
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There's Always a Deal at ASD! | |
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New! $11.95 Daily Lunch Specials
Daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Each day of the week will feature a daily food item as outlined below.
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Mondays: Jalapeno Chicken Parm Sandwich
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Tuesdays: Downs Burger
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Wednesdays: Grilled Cheese with Bacon and Tomato
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Thursdays: Taco Salad
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Fridays: Crispy Chicken Ranch Wrap
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Saturdays: Western Omelette
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Sundays: Hot Beef Sandwich
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Happy Hour
Daily from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and
9 p.m. to close.
Drink Specials
- 6 oz. House Wine - $5.50
- House Spirits - $5.50
- Domestic Beer - $5.50
- House Lager Pint - $6.00
- Downs Caesar - $7.00
Appetizer Specials
- Sweet Potato Fries - $8.95
- Chicken Fingers - $8.95
- Cheese Nachos - $8.95
- Pot Stickers - $8.95
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Spirit Hour
Nightly from 11 p.m. to Midnight
- House Vodka - $4
- Rye - $4
- Gin - $4
- Rum - $4
- Spiced Rum - $4
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Evening Chef's Specials
Daily from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Reservations are not required.
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Mondays: Chicken Finger Dinner $14.95 - Crispy breaded chicken tenders served with our famous honey dill dip. Served with fries and coleslaw.
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Tuesdays: 20% Off all regular priced food items.
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Wednesdays: Pizza $15.95 - 12-inch thin crust pizza. Ham & Pineapple, Pepperoni & Mushroom or Vegetarian (tomatoes, onions, peppers, black olives & mushrooms).
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Thursdays: Chipotle Mozza Burger $15.95 - Our signature chuck patty and crispy bacon smothered in melted mozzarella. Topped with fresh sliced tomato, fried onion rings, chipotle mayo and sweet bold barbecue sauce.
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Fridays: Steak & Suds $29.95 - 8 oz. NY Striploin charbroiled and seasoned with our smoky dry rub. Served with fresh vegetables and a choice of mashed potatoes or french fries. Plus a complimentary pint of ASD Lucky Lager.
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Saturdays: Prime Rib & Wine $29.95 - 8 oz. Certified Angus Prime Rib. Served with fresh vegetables and a choice of mashed potatoes or french fries, horseradish, and Yorkshire pudding au jus. Plus a complimentary 6 oz. glass of house wine.
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Sundays: Fish & Chips $16.95 - Two pieces of beer battered cod with tartar sauce and lemon. Served with french fries and coleslaw.
As a special bonus, everyone who orders one of the evening specials will receive a game card to play “Pick to Win” in our Club West Gaming Lounge. Pick the green poker chip and you can spin our cash wheel to win up to $100 cash!
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Christmas Buffet - Sunday, Dec. 22
SOLD OUT
Let us do all the work for you! Indulge in a mouthwatering array of traditional Christmas favourites including roast turkey with gravy, baked ham & more. See full menu here.
Adults: $39.95, Seniors (65+): $35.95, Youth (6 to 12): $29.95, Kids (5 & under): $16.95. Prices are subject to applicable taxes.
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NYE Dinner & Dance - Tuesday, Dec. 31
Ring in 2025 in style at our New Year's Eve Dinner & Dance! Join us for an unforgettable evening featuring our renowned Certified Angus Prime Rib Buffet, followed by dancing until 1 a.m. See details and full menu here.
Tickets may be purchased from the General Office at Assiniboia Downs during regular office hours (Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) - OR - call 204-885-3330 to order your tickets by phone.
Limited tickets remain so get your
tickets now!
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Handicapping: Fun With Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI Test #6. Ft. Lauderdale Stakes at Gulfstream Park Saturday.
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Horse handicapping with AI. | |
Last week the AI picked against the favourite and its choices actually ran decent. That being said, they tried everything to beat the favourite in that race and she still overcame with a gutsy stretch run to win. This week we’ll test the AI on the Ft. Lauderdale Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
FT. LAUDERDALE STAKES (G2)
Race 10, Gulfstream Park, Saturday, December 21, 2024
1 1/8 Miles (Turf) | Purse: $215,000 | 3-Year-Olds & Up
Top Selections
1. WIN FOR THE MONEY
2. GRAND SONATA
3. MAJOR DUDE
Longshots
1. EMMANUEL
2. CASH EQUITY
3. FORT WASHINGTON
The nine-furlong Ft. Lauderdale Stakes at Gulfstream Park this Saturday looks like an extremely competitive race, and odds at post time could dictate your betting choice.
Win for the Money requires forgiveness for his Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) defeat, but his prior form justifies favouritism. His Woodbine Mile (G1) victory showcased his true capabilities, and his Gulfstream record speaks volumes - crossing the wire first in both local attempts despite one disqualification. At 5-2 on the morning line, he offers reasonable value. He’s also one of only three horses in here to have cracked 100 on the Beyer scale, the others being Cash Equity and Emmanuel.
Grand Sonata can improve markedly from his Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) performance. He earned a 99 Beyer figure in his Kentucky Turf Cup (G2), and today's equipment change to blinkers should sharpen his early focus as he cuts back from 1 ½-miles to 1 1/8-miles. The Pletcher trainee partners again with Tyler Gaffalione, noteworthy since their alliance has produced all five of his career wins.
Major Dude arrives in excellent condition following a sharp Keeneland allowance win that produced a competitive 96 Beyer. His partnership with returning rider Irad Ortiz Jr. has historically produced strong results, including a win over this course in the Kitten’s Joy (G3) last year. His adaptable style suits the expected race flow.
Beyond the favourites, Emmanuel has never lost on this turf course, Cash Equity is capable of running a big number on his best day, and Fort Washington is a longshot trainer play.
Early pressure should materialize from Saratoga Flash and Siege of Boston, creating opportunities for the well-positioned stalkers to capitalize in the stretch run. This race is wide open, so your best bet in an evenly matched field is likely the horse with the most enticing odds.
See you at the windows!
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Looking for a Special Photo of Your Big Horse or...?
Track Photographer Jason Halstead may have just what you're looking for
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Spitten Kitten is led into the winner's circle by co-owner Deb Buffalo after her victory in the $50,000 La Verendrye Stakes for trainer Marvin Buffalo and co-owner Arnold Souster on June 25 at ASD. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo)
| Looking for that extra-special photo of your big horse, one you might not find in your win pictures? Track photographer Jason Halstead takes numerous photos during the races, and not all of them can make it into the win photos. If you’re looking for something frameable from your big race, or of your special horse, email Jason at jjhphoto@gmail.com. Prices are excellent! Almost as good as his photos 😊 | |
Top NFL Picks by TravyFootball Week 16
Ravens over Steelers (Saturday afternoon): Both of these teams unfortunately have the task of playing three games in 10 days, which I’m pretty sure none of the players are in favour of. But when the NFL wants more games in a week, they get more games in a week. The Steelers couldn’t get out of their own way last week against the Eagles. Anytime it looked like they were going to score, they either turned the ball over or took a dumb penalty. Even though they held Saquon Barkley in check (65 yards), they couldn’t slow down the receiving duo of A.J. Brown (110 yards) and DeVonta Smith (109 yards). Not only did they lose the game, but the biggest concern was when their star defensive player, T.J. Watt, left the game with an ankle injury.
Chiefs over Texans (Saturday noon): Just like the Steelers and Ravens, the Chiefs and Texans will also be playing three games in 10 days. Patrick Mahomes voiced his displeasure with this schedule, and considering he will be entering this contest on a bad ankle, I don’t blame him. Mahomes was hurt near the end of last week’s game and was ruled out for the rest of it. His status for the next couple of games is up in the air now. There’s almost no chance he’ll play on Saturday or Wednesday, but the Chiefs also can’t afford to lose a game with the red-hot Buffalo Bills on their tail for the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The Texans are still in first place in the AFC South, even though they aren’t playing that great. The good thing for them is that the rest of the teams in their division are terrible, so dropping out of first place isn’t a big concern for them.
Falcons over Giants (Sunday noon): I’m choosing to talk about this game because of both teams’ quarterback situations. A month ago, the Giants thought it was in their best interest to move on from Daniel Jones in favour of Tommy DeVito. Not only has DeVito been much worse, but he was knocked out of the game last week against the Ravens. I doubt he plays again this season, or for the Giants ever again, for that matter. Now, let’s talk about the Falcons and Kirk Cousins. This was supposed to be the big offseason move that would finally get Atlanta over the hump. They currently sit at 7-7, one game behind the Bucs in the NFC South. But Cousins has not looked good at all. In his last five games, he has only one touchdown pass and nine interceptions. I guess Coach Raheem Morris has seen enough and is benching Cousins in favour of rookie Michael Penix. I don’t think this was in the plan when they signed Cousins, but if you don’t trust him to throw the ball anymore, you might as well see what you’ve got in Penix. Not to say it’ll go any better, but you can’t just keep running it back with Cousins if you want to make the playoffs.
Last week: 1-2
Season overall: 28-17
Early picks for Week 17
Ravens over Texans (Christmas Day)
Rams over Cardinals (Dec. 28th)
Vikings over Packers (Dec. 29th)
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Watch and wager on world class racing from the comfort of your private carrel in our race book located on the 2nd level of the grandstand. The race book is open daily at 10 a.m. Can't make it to the track? Watch and wager at HPIbet.com or one of our off-track betting locations listed below.
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Can't make it to the track to wager?
Vist one of our off-track betting locations:
Be sure to stop by the Canad Inns Windsor Park, Green Brier Inn and Quest Inn every Saturday afternoon. A draw will be held at each location for $25 in wagering vouchers!
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Carryover Watch
- Click here for carryovers.
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Player Rewards & Cash Back Program
Earn Points: Earn points for all your wagering when you swipe your HPI card or wager on HPIbet.com. Click here for more information.
Earn Cash Bonuses: Betting bonus cash is earned at four different wagering levels in addition to regular HPIbet rewards points earned. Bonus calculations are available on payouts of $2.20 and above. Maximum weekly bonus deposit $1,000. Click here for more information.
12 Days of Christmas Bonus: Earn 2% cash back when you wager $1,000 or more through December 23. Maximum cash back $100. $2.10 payouts not included. Wagers must be placed on your HPI account. Opt-in at HPIbet.com.
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Handicapping Tournaments
Player's Choice Tournaments
- Player’s Choice – Saturday, December 28
$1,750 up for grabs! Entry fee $25. Entrants pick 10 races from any thoroughbred, harness or quarter horse track that is racing on the contest day. A $2 WPS wager is placed on one horse from each race. The entrant with the highest bankroll is the winner. Click here to see a list of the 2024 tournament winners.
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"I Won Bigg" Wagering Group | |
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The "I Won Bigg" wagering group will be meeting every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. on the plaza in the Clubhouse. This week's featured tracks will be Tampa and Gulfstream. Everyone is welcome. If you would like more information please email Larry.
Group play will take place as follows:
- Saturday, Dec. 21
- Thursday, Dec. 26
- Saturday, Dec. 28
- No group play during the month of January.
- Group play will resume on Saturday, Feb. 7
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A Snapshot in Time
by Track Historian Bob Gates
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In the third of our four-part "milestone-year" photos, we remember long time local favourite Springs Best from the 1960s. 65 Years Ago: The Nels French’s chestnut mare is seen above breaking her maiden on July 1, 1959 as a 3-year-old. Anyone out there remember her? She may not have been a stakes horse, but she does appear in the Downs record books. On July 6, 1960 she was part of a record setting quinella. Together with winner Boots Darling they set the record for the then smallest quinella which paid $6.00 (Assiniboia Downs Archive photo). | |
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Likely 5/2 favourite has won both his turf starts at Gulfstream, but DQ'd from one
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Win for the Money (Woodbine / Michael Burns) | |
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Canadian photographers continue to share their great work on social media
| Bricklayer, by Always Dreaming, won the Manitoba Derby for owner/trainer Larry Gourneau Jr. and jockey Larry Fuentes on Aug. 05, 2024, Race 7 at Assiniboia Downs. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) | From the sharp eyes of some great photographers who love horse racing across Canada, here are some images from the racing seasons of 2024. Thank you to the generous contributors who helped make Canadian Thoroughbred the top horse racing news website in the land! Nice to see jockeys Antonio Whitehall and Juan Crawford, Manitoba Derby winner Bricklayer, and ASD photographer Jason Halstead in the mix! More from the Canadian Thoroughbred here. | |
Bruno Schickedanz extends leading owner streak to 10 consecutive seasons
| Woodbine's Bill Ford (center) and Mark McKelvie (right) present meet leader awards to jockey Sahin Civaci and trainer Mark Casse. (Woodbine / Michael Burns Photo) | |
The recently concluded 2024 Thoroughbred racing season at Woodbine Racetrack saw jockey Sahin Civaci, trainer Mark Casse and owner Bruno Schickedanz take top honours.
Civaci earned his first Woodbine riding title with 170 wins. Casse collected his 16th Woodbine training title with 108 winners and Bruno Schickedanz won his 10th consecutive leading owner title. More from the Blood Horse here.
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The Best of Bob
by ASD Historian Bob Gates
From December 17, 2020: A Racetracker's Night Before Christmas
Well, it’s time for our annual holiday treat from your "born-on-Christmas-Day" Track Historian -- Bob's take on Clement Clarke Moore's poem A Visit from Saint Nicholas. The result is a Christmas classic with a local horse racing flavour that we can enjoy every holiday season. Click here for Bob's version of A Racetracker's Night Before Christmas—and Merry Christmas!
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Upcoming Events at ASD
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Every Friday Night in December - Enter for a chance to spin the lucky Cash Wheel starting at 6 p.m. A draw for $200 cash will also take place - more info
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Every Saturday Night in December - Enter for a chance to spin the lucky Cash Wheel starting at 6 p.m. A draw for $200 cash will also take place - more info
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Every Sunday Night in December - Enter for a chance to spin the lucky Cash Wheel starting at 6 p.m. A draw for $200 cash will also take place - more info
- Saturday, Dec. 14 to Thursday, Dec. 26 - 12 Days of Christmas Cash - more info
- Christmas Buffet - Sunday, Dec. 22 - SOLD OUT
- Player's Choice Handicapping Tournament - Saturday, Dec. 28 - more info
- Together Again - Saturday, Dec. 28 - more info
- New Year's Eve Dinner & Dance - Tuesday, Dec. 31 - more info
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Feedback & Inside Track Archives | |
We would love to hear from you! Email your comments and/or suggestions to theinsidetrack@ASDowns.com.
Did you know that past issues of The Inside Track are available on our website? Click here to read them now.
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