Henry S. Witt, Jr. Returning to ASD in Quest for 8th Consecutive Owner Title

Henry S. Witt, Jr. has won the leading owner title at Assiniboia Downs seven years in a row, and the former champion race car driver will be coming after it again in 2026 with an even bigger and better stable.

"We'll be there early this year," said Witt, who won the 2025 owner title at the Downs with a record of 33-26-20 from 132 starts for purse earnings of $350,137. And that was after getting off to a late start.

Five-time leading trainer Jerry Gourneau is expected to be back at the helm again in 2026 for Witt, who could have as many as 50 horses in training at the Downs this year, including a Derby horse.

Full story here

Rob Solmundson wins January Player’s Choice Tourney, Without Longshots

Rob Solmundson won last Saturday's Player's Choice Handicapping Tournament, and for the second time in as many months, the winning total was less than $100.

Longshots continue to be hard to come by, even for our core group of talented handicappers, and while the average winning score in the Player's Choice is likely around $120, Solmundson built his bankroll to $90.40 to take home the trophy.

For the second consecutive month, the winning total for the Player's Choice hovered around the $90 mark.

Is a trend developing?

Full story here

Explore a Career as a Racehorse Groom!

Looking for a hands-on way to get involved in the horse racing industry?

The HBPA of Manitoba Inc. is offering a 4-week paid Racehorse Groom Training Program, a chance to learn the ropes of daily barn life while working directly with racehorses.

Applications are open now! For details and to apply, visit hbpamanitoba.ca or email hbpamanitoba@mymts.net.

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.

NFL Picks by TravyFootball

Super Bowl

The Patriots are being written off by just about everyone — weak schedule, lucky wins, no star power. But the Super Bowl isn’t a series, it’s one game, and strange things happen when pressure hits early.

See my full breakdown here.

Super Bowl LX at Assiniboia Downs

Enjoy Happy Hour pricing all day long while you settle in for the biggest game of the year. Kickoff is at 5:30 p.m., so grab a seat, load up on great food and drinks, and cheer on your favourite team with us.

Road to the Kentucky Derby

• Feb. 6 - Southwest (OP) - 20 points
• Feb. 6 - Withers (Aqu) - 20 points
• Feb. 7 - Sam F. Davis (Tam) - 20 points
• Feb. 7 - Robert B. Lewis (SA) - 20 points
• Feb. 14 - Risen Star (FG) - 50 points
• Feb. 14 - Saudi Cup - 30 points

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

Well friends, we’ve made it to February — the “longest” shortest month of the year. That means it won’t be long before the horses start moving in. You can feel it in the air: racing season is on its way, and I can’t wait! Over the next four weeks, let’s take a look back at the Jockeys of the Past. First up is this fantastic photo from the Downs’ archives, “Whittier Park Jockeys – 1932” (Assiniboia Downs Archives Photo).

2026 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at a Glance

The Robert. B. Lewis Stakes (G3) has been dominated in recent years by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who has won the last seven editions with odds-on favourites.

Baffert trains three of the seven 3-year-olds entered in this year’s edition, but there are a few in here that could upset the apple cart, including Intrepido.

-- America's Best Racing

Focus could be on closers in loaded Southwest

Send in the closers. The $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) on Friday at Oaklawn Park could have a completely different pace scenario than the track’s first Kentucky Derby points race of the season, the Smarty Jones.

“There’s a lot of pace in this race,” said trainer Mark Casse, who won the Smarty Jones with Strategic Risk. Casse expects Strategic Risk to be coming from just off the pace in the packed Southwest field, and he will be a solid price with morning-lined odds of 9/2.

-- Daily Racing Form

2026 Kentucky Derby Rankings - Week 3

Early Kentucky Derby favourite Ted Noffey is off the Derby trail, so who will take his place at the top? Did we see a future star in last weekend's Holy Bull winner Nearly? Maybe, but you can be sure there will be more.

We could see them on Friday in the Southwest and Withers Stakes, or on Saturday in the Robert B. Lewis and Sam F. Davis. Steve Haskin has the update on his top Derby contenders and where they're headed.

Watch closely!

-- Secretariat.com

The Best of Bob

Did you know that Dick Armstrong rode his one and only Manitoba Derby winner on July 19, 1969? Just one day later, another Armstrong — Neil — stepped off the lunar module Eagle and onto the moon for his famous walk.

Read Bob’s story about two Armstrongs making history worlds apart here. (From July 2019)