2026 Live Race Dates

• Tuesday, May 12 through Wednesday, Oct. 7. Click here for full schedule.
• Reservations are now open for our renowned all-you-can-eat Prime Rib Buffet which is available on Live Race Nights only.

Special Offer: $10 off per reservation in May. Use code MAYPRIME when booking. Reservations must be made by Thursday, April 30 in order to receive this special offer.

A Lifetime of Good Horses

I had the pleasure of sitting down with master horse person Carl Anderson this week, just to reminisce about some of the good horses he has trained over the years. Anderson doesn't pull any punches, and you can tell he knows his craft better than most. His stories are real.

The 4-time Gold Cup winner has 12 horses in the barn now, and he's still going strong at 80. "Lots of 4 a.m. mornings," said Anderson. "Lots of hard work."

Sixty years' worth. Every one of them earned.

Full story here

The fun never stops at Assiniboia Downs

Winnipeg’s place to play and win!

Did you know that Assiniboia Downs is Winnipeg's #1 Spot for VLT Jackpots? Play any of our 140 VLTs in the Club West Gaming Lounge for your chance to win!

🎡 Free Spin to Win draws — Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting at 6 p.m.

💸 Free $200 cash draws — Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 9 p.m.

Click here to see our recent jackpots.

Kentucky Derby

Join us for the most exciting two minutes in sports! Watch and wager on the Kentucky Derby live at Assiniboia Downs or at any of our off-track partner locations.

• Free Kentucky Derby programs and Daily Racing Forms available at all locations (available the afternoon of Thursday, April 30).
• Don’t miss the special ASD Live Kentucky Derby YouTube Show with your favourite hosts, Kirt & Stretch, as they break down all the Derby action. Subscribe to our ASD YouTube channel and you will be notified when the show is available to watch.
• On Derby Day, Saturday, May 2, enter free draws for official Kentucky Derby merchandise at all locations.

Assiniboia Downs will open at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 2.

Owner/Trainer/Breeder Appreciation Dinner

You and a Guest are cordially invited to our Owner/Trainer/Breeder Appreciation Dinner.

• Thursday, June 11
• Terrace Dining Room at Assiniboia Downs
• Cocktails: 5:00 p.m.
• Prime Rib Buffet: 6:00 p.m.
• Tickets: $20 donation. All donations will go to the Winners Foundation and Final Furlong

Tickets can be purchased at the General Office or by calling 204-885-3330. The deadline to purchase tickets is Monday, June 8. An LGCA licence number is required at the time of purchase.

Looking for a Special Photo?

Track Photographer Jason Halstead may have just what you're looking for

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 😊

A Snapshot in Time by Bob Gates

On August 6, 1966, the Anderson boys, Leonard and Carl, celebrated an early win in their respective careers. Carl lost his brother in December 2015 and described Lenny as the best horseman he ever knew. Carl, who is still hard at it, has more than 50 years of experience and won the Assiniboia Downs leading trainer title in 2009. (Bob Barnes Photo)

A Dozen Historical Trends to Know Before Betting the 2026 Kentucky Derby

The long, rich history of the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve stretches back over 150 years to its inaugural running in 1875.

By reviewing decades of Derby results for commonalities uniting past winners (or losers), handicappers can build a profile of a typical Kentucky Derby champion that we can use to identify the most likely winner each year.

In advance of the 2026 Run for the Roses, here are a dozen historical handicapping angles to keep in mind.

-- America's Best Racing

Woodbine Begins: Haley, Munger, Neigel, Rombis, Gittens, Fast Out of Gate

The best news from the opening weekend of the 71st Woodbine season was that horse people finally got a chance to race their horses and collect some purse money after a long and lean winter.

Seven different trainers and riders won the seven races on opening day, and there were some nice longshots in the mix.

Ryan Munger was the hot jockey on the weekend, winning four races. And former ASD trainer Devon Gittens, who finished fifth in the standings at Woodbine last year, started five horses and had a win, a second, and a third-place finish. That certainly didn't take long!

Well done Devon!

-- Canadian Thoroughbred

2026 Kentucky Derby Rankings - Danon Bourbon Feature

Steve Haskin's latest Kentucky Derby rankings column takes a detour from speed figures to tell the story of Danon Bourbon, the Japanese-trained colt who has steamrolled his opposition in three career starts.

Nobody knows how he'll handle Churchill Downs and a 20-horse field at 1 1/4 miles -- and that's exactly what makes him the most fascinating horse in the 2026 Derby. He could be a nice longshot!

Definitely worth a read.

-- Secretariat.com

The Best of Bob

From the Archives – September 24, 2025

Sam Perlman may not be a familiar name to many readers of the history blog, but his influence on racing locally and across North America was legendary. Bob explored the racing archives to share the story of this Winnipeg-born man, who started with the Winnipeg Free Press in the early 1920s and went on to become editor and publisher of horse racing’s “Bible,” the Daily Racing Form, in 1949. He also served as a Steward at Assiniboia Downs from 1966 to 1971. Click here to learn more about Sam.