ASSINIBOIA DOWNS
The Inside Track | Issue #43 | September 2, 2022
  • Open daily from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
  • VLTs, Race Carrels and Tables are sanitized between customer use.
In this edition . . .
  • What's happening at the Downs?
  • 3% Cash Back Bonus for Manitoba HPI Customers
  • 20 Cards Remain in Chase the Ace
  • Dining at Assiniboia Downs
  • Lady Cop game in Osiris Stakes
  • Liebrecht wins Handicapping Contest
  • Thank You from the Manitoba Night Market
  • Snapshot in Time - Northern Spike
  • Partner Locations
  • Photo of the Week: Massive Smiles
  • Epicenter rules Travers Stakes
  • Pacific Classic Cheat Sheet
  • Carryover Watch
  • TravyFootball is back for another NFL Season
  • Bob: Brothers from Lehr, North Dakota
  • Upcoming Events - Only 10 days of Live Racing left
Do the Downs!
SPIN TO WIN THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS IN THE CLUB WEST GAMING LOUNGE - Enter at the VLT cage every Thursday and Friday for a chance to spin the wheel for up to $100 cash! Draws will be made every 30 minutes starting at noon.
ASD PLAYER PORTAL. ONE EASY CLICK FOR ALL YOUR ASD RACING INFO!
  • Watch ASD live racing
  • Free ASD live programs
  • Free ASD Brisnet pps
  • Expert selections from ASD, Canadian Thoroughbred and Horse Racing Nation
  • Jockey and trainer stats
  • Current carryover information
  • Jockey bios
  • Click here to go to our Player Portal now
3% CASH BACK BONUS FOR MANITOBA HPI CUSTOMERS
  • Manitoba HPI customers earn 3% cash back when they wager $100 or more on Assiniboia Downs on each of the following days: Monday, September 5, Tuesday, September 6 and Wednesday, September 7. Opt-in at HPIbet.com.
  • Maximum cash back earned for the September 5 through September 7 promotion period is $25. ($2.10 payouts are not included)
FAN EDUCATION CENTRE - How do I place a bet? What do the odds mean? How do I read the information in the program? If you need answers to the questions above or any other racing questions be sure to stop by the Fan Education Centre on the main floor.

Shannon and Brad are happy to assist you every live race night from 6 p.m. until the end of racing. They can also help you open a free HPI online betting account.
TWENTY CARDS REMAIN FOR CHASE THE ACE! Play Chase the Ace
every live race night. Ace of Diamonds wins the $5,510 jackpot. Other prizes: Either Joker $100, any other card $25. Tickets are $5 and available at Guest Services from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The draw will be made at 9:30 p.m. Proceeds in support of Final Furlong. Manitoba Jockey Club license LGCA-5630-RF-34975.

Final Furlong is a Manitoba-based charity that helps find good homes for retired racehorses and pony horses. Visit them on Facebook @FinalFurlongCanada.
NEXT LAS VEGAS CHALLENGE HANDICAPPING TOURNAMENT GOES MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26.

ENTRY FEE: $50 which you can reduce to zero by predicting three winners on race cards leading up to the tournament. 

QUALIFY DAILY: Qualify every live race day for a reduced entry fee by picking three winners on the ASD race card. Click here for a list of the current qualifiers as of August 31.

PRIZES: 1st Place: Trip for two to Las Vegas*, 2nd Place: $500, 3rd Place: $250

TOURNAMENT WINNERS: June 27 - Harold Wiens, July 18 - Darcy Penner,
August 8 - Jane Baxter & Peter Colwill (tie), August 29 - Larry Liebrecht.

For more information, tournament rules and qualifying days please email Sheri at [email protected].

(*The winner of the tournament will be provided $3,500 to book their trip and accommodations to Las Vegas)
Dining at Assiniboia Downs
BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER & SNACKS
The Club West Dining Room is open daily at 10 a.m. until 1 a.m. for breakfast, lunch, dinner & snacks. Our menu includes favourites such as chicken wings, pizza, chipotle mozza burger (pictured), steak sandwich or bacon and eggs plus much more! See the full menu here.
RACE NIGHT PRIME RIB BUFFET
Enjoy our fabulous all-you-can-eat Prime Rib buffet every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday during live racing! Buffet highlights include signature certified Angus prime rib of beef carvery, seafood table featuring jumbo shrimp and salmon, fresh salads and side dishes prepared with locally grown vegetables plus much more!

Complimentary programs and tip sheets are included and the table is yours for the evening. Adults - $47.95, Seniors (65+) - $44.95, Kids 12 & under - $27.95, Kids 5 & under - $14.95 Reservations are required. Call 204-885-3330.

RACE NIGHT PLAZA DINING
Looking for a more casual dining experience during racing? Tables on the plaza (with a view of the track) are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Choose from the Clubhouse a la carte Race Night Menu. The table is yours for the entire evening of racing. Minimum charge $20 per person.
FRIDAY & SATURDAY CHEF'S SPECIALS
Friday Top Sirloin Steak - $24.95 - 8 oz top Sirloin charbroiled and seasoned with our smoky dry rub. Served with vegetables and choice of mashed potatoes or french fries. Served from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday BBQ St. Louis Ribs - $24.95 - Smoky charbroiled ribs with our signature BBQ sauce. Served with vegetables and choice of mashed potatoes or french fries. Served from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Reservations are not required.
At The Post with G.S. Thompson
Lady Cop wins 59th Running of Osiris Stakes
Game Vengeful Wildcat filly bred by Dr. Betty Hughes now a perfect 3-for-3
Lady Cop and jockey Renaldo Cumberbatch are led into the winner's circle by groom Olive Johnston after winning the 59th running of the Osiris Stakes on Monday, as trainer Mike Nault looks on. (George Williams photo)
For the second time in a row, Manitoba-bred Lady Cop called on her big heart to win, this time in the 59th running of the $40,000 Osiris Stakes on Monday night.
 
The 2-year-old filly by Vengeful Wildcat-Agolo Bynoe by Successful Appeal dueled inside favoured gelding Adjournment to the top of the stretch and opened up to win by three lengths, being kept to task through the stretch to hold safe from her male rival, who certainly wasn’t giving up.
 
Trained by Mike Nault for A2 Thoroughbreds and True North Thoroughbreds, and groomed by sisters Charlotte and Olive Johnston, the big dark bay filly was ridden by hot jock Renaldo Cumberbatch, who ended up winning four of the seven races on Monday night.
Lady Cop wins the 59th running of the $40,000 Osiris Stakes on Monday night at ASD with Renaldo Cumberbatch up. (George Williams photo)
Bred by Dr. Betty Hughes, Lady Cop has now won all three of her starts and earned almost $60,000 since being purchased for $12,000 by Pat Beavis at last year’s Manitoba CTHS Yearling Sale. And she could be something special.
 
“You just get that feeling when you see her,” said Nault. “She’s a professional. In the barn and in the races. I think she beat a pretty nice horse in Adjournment. He hooked her and she ran easy, switched leads into the stretch and opened up like a good thing. She knows what she’s doing.”
 
In her race before the Osiris, the Debutante Stakes, Lady Cop was ultra-game, digging to win by a neck after looking beaten in mid-stretch.
 
“She’s been awesome to work with,” said groom Charlotte Johnston. “Just the sweetest baby,” said fellow groom, Charlotte’s sister Olive.
 
The 56-year-old Nault has been at the training game for over 20 years and is following up on his stakes-winning 2021 season with another strong year with a record of 13-5-8 from 54 starts for purse earnings of $154,216, including a victory in the Elite Mercedes Stakes with older horse Itsthattime, also owned by True North Thoroughbreds.
 
Last year, True North Thoroughbreds campaigned Debutante Stakes and champion winner Bankin On Betty with Nault, who also guided A2 Thoroughbreds’ Diamond Digger to three stakes wins and a championship. And there may be a few more good 2-year-olds yet to come from Nault.
 
He’s currently preparing a pair of youngsters by Oxbow and Uncle Mo. Could they be better than Lady Cop? That’s a lot to ask, considering the size of her heart, but you never know. The fun part is finding out, and we’re all here for the same reasons.
 
Lady Cop could start in the $40,000 Buffalo Stakes or the $50,000 Winnipeg Futurity Stakes next, and maybe even follow that up with a chance in the $100,000 CTHS Sales Stakes in Alberta.

Hopes and dreams.
Lady Cop gets her smooches from grooms Charlotte (left) and Olive Johnston as trainer Mike Nault smiles on the sidelines. (George Williams photo)
Liebrecht Wins Handicapping Tourney Despite Missing Last Bet
70-year-old owner of Ampere Electric holds on to win by $3.60
Larry Liebrecht won Monday's Las Vegas Handicapping Challenge Handicapping Tournament at ASD for the third time on Monday, despite missing his final bet. Congratulations Larry! (Ivan Bigg photo)
Larry Liebrecht won Monday’s Las Vegas Challenge Handicapping Tournament with a bankroll of $86.90 despite the fact that he didn’t get his final bet in.

“I knew I was close going into the last race,” said Liebrecht. “But when I went home and double checked my results, my last bet didn’t show up. I thought I’d clicked confirm on Miss Giving in the last race, but when I went back to look, I saw that I’d missed it. I didn’t sleep all night.”

The 70-year-old owner of Ampere Electric had just enough built up from his first six bets to win the contest by $3.60 over Geoffrey Metcalf (2nd, $83.30), followed by Janet Gray (3rd, $70.10), Brett Perrault (4th, $64.70) and Alan Hampton (5th, $63.00).

Liebrecht won $3,500 and a trophy for his first-place finish.

Locally, Liebrecht helps runs the “I Won Big” betting workshops on Saturday mornings during the off season and also on big carryover days during the summer, which includes this Saturday’s expected $2-3 million carryover in the Del Mar Pick 6. If you ever want to get in on the action you can email Larry at [email protected]. It’s a fun group with some sharp handicappers.

After 50-years of playing the horses, Liebrecht says he has learned from experience. The three-time local contest winner pays attention to trainer stats and Beyer Speed Figures and Bris numbers, but mainly prefers to look at all kinds of angles, one of his favourites being a horse that has shown speed in a route cutting back to a sprint.

Like numerous other veteran players, Liebrecht was shocked at the payoff on fifth-race winner Aniar on Monday night. The classy 11-year-old may have been the overlay of the meet when he paid $14.40 despite being listed as the 9/5 morning-line favourite. Liebrecht also played Button Mushroom in the sixth race, who finished second at 25-1 and returned $17.70 and $13.40 to place and show.

Liebrecht was trying to remember how long he had played in the local handicapping contests and could only figure it out by remembering a win by his daughter Brittany in the same contest 15 years ago. “She was 20 when she won and she’s 35 now,” said Liebrecht. “I was playing the contests for about five years before that.”

And handicapping for 50.
Assiniboia Downs and the Manitoba Night Market would like to thank you for another successful season of Night Markets!

Thank you to every artisan, vendor and food truck. Thank you to the amazing local, talented musicians. And a big thank you to each and every person that attended the markets! Without you, none of this would be possible.

We appreciate you shopping and supporting local and we cannot wait to do it all again next year! 
A Snapshot in Time
By Track Historian Bob Gates
This is the final photo (#4 of 4) of our series that features track record equaling performances for six furlongs. On June 13, 1982 Northern Spike equals Intercontinent’s time of 1:09 1/5, that he set in May 1981. (Gerry Hart photo)
CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE TRACK TO WAGER?
Watch and wager at one of our partner locations:

  • Canad Inns Windsor Park - 1034 Elizabeth Road
  • Green Brier Inn - 1611 Main Street
  • Rookies at Central Hotel - 201 Melrose Avenue East
  • Quest Inn - 367 Ellice Avenue
  • McPhillips Station Casino - 484 McPhillips Street
  • Club Regent Casino - 1425 Regent Ave W
  • Nor-Villa Motor Hotel - 1763 Henderson Hwy
  • Club 3D - 3317 Portage Avenue
  • Wager 24/7 at HPIbet.com
Photo of the Week
Do smiles get any bigger? Trainer Mike Nault and jockey Renaldo Cumberbatch were doing the happy dance after winning the Osiris Plate on Monday with Lady Cop. (George Williams photo)
Do you have an interesting photo you would like showcased in an upcoming newsletter? Email us at [email protected].
In The News
Son of Not This Time now top 3-year-old in America following easy win.
Travers winner Epicenter after his big win on Saturday. (Vanessa Ng / Horse-Races.net photo)
Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Epicenter, who came up just shy of Grade 1 glory twice this spring in the Triple Crown, secured both his first top-level victory and a place at the top of the sophomore division with an emphatic 5 1/4-length victory under Joel Rosario in the 153rd renewal of the 10-furlong Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course. More from the Canadian Thoroughbred here.
Five horses challenge undefeated superstar Flightline this Saturday.
Flightline, shown dominating the Metropolitan Handicap June 11, is expected to be heavily favoured to win the Pacific Classic on Sept. 3 at Del Mar. (Ryan Thompson / NYRA photo)
The $1 million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes this Saturday represents the signature race of the Del Mar summer meet as well as one of the more important races in the chase for Eclipse Awards across multiple divisions. And Flightine is a must-watch horse. More from America's Best Racing here.
Carryover Watch
  • Assiniboia Downs (September 5) - ASD Jackpot Pick 5 carryover - $289,268
  • Gulfstream Park (September 2) - Jackpot Pick 6 carryover - $118,786
  • Woodbine (September 2) - Super Hi 5 Jackpot carrover - $91,510
  • Del Mar (September 2) - Jackpot Pick 6 carryover - $66,161
  • See all carryovers here.

MANDATORY PAYOUT ALERT: The Del Mar Jackpot Pick 6 will be paid out on Saturday, September 3. The current carryover is $66,161.
Top NFL Picks by TravyFootball
2022-2023 Season Preview 
Guess who’s back, back again, Travy’s back, tell a friend!

It’s finally time for another glorious NFL season to begin. This past off-season was arguably one of biggest in terms of teams making trades and signing free agents, more specifically the number of quarterbacks that found new homes for 2022.

Russell Wilson, Matt Ryan, Carson Wentz, Baker Mayfield, Mitch Trubisky, and Marcus Mariota just to name a few, have all found themselves starting for new teams this year. Some will be more successful than others, but it will take a few weeks before we really know who is going to have the most impact.

Of course, how can we talk about quarterbacks and not mention the ageless one, Mr. Tom Brady, who retired and quickly unretired in a matter of months. I understand the urge to continue doing something that has been in his blood since birth, but c'mon man, enough is enough! Let some other teams win Super Bowls for a change.

For any new readers out there, I’m a diehard 49er fan and I will try my best to not be biased when it comes to picking their games (except against the Rams, I will ALWAYS pick them to beat the Rams!).

Last season, in what was one of the more surprising Super Bowls, the LA Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, but don’t expect to see either of those teams return to the big game this season. The Buffalo Bills vs San Francisco 49ers is my prediction for the final two, with San Fran hoisting the Lombardi trophy when it’s all said and done. 
Bob's Blog
by ASD Historian Bob Gates

Bob's historical flashback this week is about a jockey who started riding at the Downs back in 1964. In his first full year of riding (1965), he challenged veteran Dickie Armstrong for the leading rider title only to fall a couple of wins short. This young jockey had a brother that trained here and held Joan Phipps “book.” Click here to learn the identities of these two brothers from the Lehr, North Dakota area.  
Upcoming events at ASD

  • Live Racing - Monday, September 5 - 7:30 p.m.
  • Live Racing - Tuesday, September 6 - 7:30 p.m.
  • Live Racing - Wednesday, September 7 - 7:30 p.m.
  • Live Racing - Monday, September 12 - 7:30 p.m.
  • Live Racing - Tuesday, September 13 - 7:30 p.m.
  • Live Racing - Wednesday, September 14 - 7:30 p.m.
  • Together Again - Steve Aoki Concert - Friday, September 16 - more info
  • MICEC Monster Bingo - Saturday, September 17 - more info
  • Live Racing - Monday, September 19 - 7:30 p.m.
  • Live Racing - Tuesday, September 20 - 7:30 p.m.
  • Live Racing - Monday, September 26 - 7:30 p.m.
  • Las Vegas Challenge Handicapping Tournament - Monday, Sept. 26 - more info
  • Final Night of Live Racing - Tuesday, September 27 - 7:30 p.m.
Feedback
We would love to hear from you! Email your comments and/or suggestions to [email protected].
The Inside Track Archives
Did you know that past issues of The Inside Track are available on our website? Click here to read them now.