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ISSUE #180 - APRIL 18, 2025

Assiniboia Downs is open regular hours (10 a.m. to 1 a.m.) for VLTs, dining and wagering on horse racing on Good Friday, April 18, Saturday, April 19 and Easter Sunday, April 20.

Trainer Lise Pruitt with 2024 Rangatira Stakes winner Explosive.


Pruitt will have 15-18 horses at ASD this season, including a number of exciting juvenile prospects.

Trainer Lise Pruitt Looking Forward to 2025 Live Racing Season at ASD


"I can't wait to start," said trainer Lise Pruitt. "Can't wait." Pruitt is looking forward to the start of the 2025 live racing season at Assiniboia Downs on Tuesday, May 13, and for good reason.


This will be her fifth season at the helm for top owner Barry Arnason and his Arnason Farms, and she's got some exciting young prospects along with last year's stable star Explosive.



CLICK HERE to read more about Lise's 2025 stable.

2025 Live Racing Season



  • 2025 Live Race Dates - click here
  • NEW ENHANCED Shipping Incentives - click here
  • REVISED Condition Book #1 - click here
  • Stakes Schedule - click here
  • Stall Application - click here

Easter Brunch and Mother's Day Brunch


Easter Brunch and Mother's Day Brunch are both SOLD OUT.

prime-rib-buffet-dinner-2.jpg

Live Racing Prime Rib Buffet


Reservations are now open for our live racing Certified Angus Prime Rib Buffet featuring succulent, melt-in-your-mouth prime rib prepared to perfection, seafood table, rotating entree selections and much more! Buffet prices: Adults $59.95, Seniors (65+) $54.95, Kids 6 to 12 years old $34.95, Kids 5 & under $22.95.


SPECIAL LIMITED OFFER: $10 off per person for any race night in May. Promotional reservations are limited and must be made before April 30th.

Click to enlarge photo

A Snapshot in Time by Bob Gates


This is the third part of our four-part series revisiting wins recorded by Hall of Fame jockey Irwin Driedger. Irwin is seen here aboard Tommy Elias’s Criollazo. Who remembers this boy? Criollazo was an old class horse who, at the age of 12, won three straight races in 1981. During his career, Irwin rode all types of horses. (Gerry Hart photo)

The Western Canadian Derby Series offers a $100,000 bonus to any horse that can sweep the Manitoba Derby, Canadian Derby and BC Derby, plus a lucrative owner-trainer bonus.

Western Canadian Derby Series News

$100,000 Derby Bonus and $25,000 Owner-Trainer Bonus


With Western Canadian race meets launching in May, the 2025 Western Canadian Derby Series promises to elevate an already thrilling season of Thoroughbred racing across Western Canada.


A $100,000 Derby Bonus awaits any three-year-old daring enough to sweep all three races, bolstered by the Manitoba Derby’s return to the series alongside the Canadian Derby and BC Derby. A $25,000 Owner-Trainer Bonus will further stoke the competition. ~ CanadianThoroughbred.com

CLICK FOR FULL STORY

Secretariat.com has been running Hall of Fame writer Steve Haskin's horse racing columns for years, and for good reason! Haskin spent decades in the backstretch learning his craft, and it shows!

Steve Haskin's Kentucky Derby Rankings Week 12


Get your reading glasses on! Steve Haskin's final Kentucky Derby Rankings piece for 2025 is long!


With all the prep races complete, Haskin now moves beyond looking at the positives and negatives, strengths and weaknesses, to analyzing the final Thoro-Graph patterns and asking questions.


He'll make his final assessment next week after observing the horses and watching how they are training and will then provide his final Derby analysis and handicapping column. ~ Secretariat.com

CLICK FOR FULL STORY

Arkansas Derby winner Sandman is expected to be in the field for the 2025 Kentucky Derby. (Coady Media)

SLIDESHOW: Get to Know the 2025 Kentucky Derby Contenders


The 2025 edition of the Kentucky Derby should draw a full field of 20 horses including the winners of all the major prep races.


For most of the horses expected to compete in the first jewel of the Triple Crown, America's Best Racing was able to find a nice mix of photos to show fans the competitive side of the horses, as well as a bit of their personality.


The contenders appear in order by points earned via the Road to the Kentucky Derby scoring system that determines the 20-horse field, with profile photos, workout images, and racing pictures when available.

CLICK FOR FULL STORY

The Best of Bob by Bob Gates


From August 23, 2024: Will 2024 Be Gary Danelson’s Swan Song?


Our weekly trip down memory lane celebrates a couple of important dates for the Downs’ all-time leading trainer, Gary Danelson. August is a special month—Gary has a birthday coming up, along with the anniversary of his first-ever win at the Downs. This week’s story also includes thoughts from some of the people who know Gary best. Click here to see who Bob spoke with, as well as his take on Gary’s plans for the future. 

Feedback & Inside Track Archives

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