ASD Hours

• Open daily from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
• VLT machines are sanitized between use

2024 Live Race Dates

• Monday, May 20 to Tuesday, September 17 - click here for schedule

In this edition . . .

• What's happening at the Downs?
• There's always a Deal at ASD!
• Top Trainer Jared Brown Back in Town
• LGCA Hiring for Horse Racing
• 2024 Condition Book #1
• 2024 Shipping Incentive Program
• Not Long Till Spring by Tim Cox
• Road to Kentucky Derby 150
• Looking For a Special Photo?
• Carryover Watch
• Off-Track Betting Locations
• "I Won Bigg" Wagering Group
• A Snapshot In Time: Hasty Mister
• Dark Horse Bets Download
• Domestic Product Wins Tampa Bay Derby
• 165th King's Plate Contenders
• Steve Haskin's Derby Rankings Week 8
• The Best of Bob - Slim Keith & Contributor
• Upcoming Events

Upcoming Handicapping Tournaments

Player's Choice Tournaments:

• This Saturday, March 16
• Saturday, April 13
• Saturday, May 11

Tournament Winners:

• Player's Choice - Saturday, January 20 - Winner: Ron Phelps
• Player's Choice - Saturday, February 17 - Winner: Trevor Phelps

Club West Gaming Lounge

140 VLTs are available daily in our spacious Club West Gaming Lounge from 10 a.m. through 1 a.m. Enjoy complimentary coffee or tea. We also have fantastic deals on daily drink specials, happy hour specials, daily lunch and nightly food features. Please note that our VLTs are sanitized between play.

Free daily draws take place for your chance to win cash!

• Break Open Bonanza! Draws to win $10 plus 20 break-open tickets! Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.
• Lucky Spins! Draws for $20 in FREE VLT Spins Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. 

Luck of the Irish Draws! Pick a lucky coin and win up to $100 CASH!

Each coin will be worth a dollar amount up to $100 and you keep what you win. Draws will be made throughout the day and evening on Saturday, March 16 & Sunday, March 17 starting at noon.

$11.95 Daily Lunch Specials

Enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks from our Club West Dining Room menu or try our ever changing $11.95 lunch special.

• Club West Dining Room & Lounge menu
• Daily Happy Hour specials

Daily Drink Features All Day Long

• Monday - Margarita $6 (lime, peach or strawberry)
• Tuesday - Corona $5
• Wednesday - Wine $4.50 (6 oz. glass of house white or house red)
• Thursday - Beer $4.75 (house pint of beer)
• Friday - Trifecta Tea $6 (Absolut peach vodka, lemonade, sweet tea)
• Saturday - RazDerby Lemonade $6 (Absolut raspberry vodka, lemonade)
• Sunday - Caesar $6

Daily Evening Chef's Specials

Monday - BBQ Ribs $19.95: Smoky char-broiled ribs with our signature BBQ sauce. Served with french fries and coleslaw.

Tuesday - Tacos $9.95: Two flour tortillas stuffed with taco beef, chicken or fish, lettuce, green onions, cheese and diced tomato. Served with a drizzle of avocado cilantro lime sauce and taco chips.

Wednesday - Two Topping Pizza $14.95: Thin crust pizza with mozzarella and tomato sauce. Choose from pepperoni, bacon, ham, spicy beef, chicken, tomato, mushroom, peppers, black olives or onions.

Thursday - Chipotle Mozza Burger $14.95: Our signature sirloin patty and crispy bacon smothered in melted mozzarella. Topped with fresh sliced tomato, fried onion rings, chipotle mayo and sweet bold barbeque sauce.

Friday - Steak & Suds $24.95: 8 oz. Sirloin steak 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.

Saturday - Prime & Wine $29.95: Certified Angus Prime Rib (8 oz. cut.) 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.

Sunday - Fish & Chips $14.95: Two pieces of beer battered cod with tartar sauce and lemon. Served with french fries and coleslaw.

Reservations are not required. The above specials are available from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Everyone who purchases one of the above specials will receive a coupon to play our free "Pick to Win" game in the VLT lounge for a chance to spin our lucky cash wheel where you can win up to $100 cash!

Top Trainer Jared Brown Back In Town

56-year-old conditioner arrives early at ASD with new crop of youngsters

Trainer Jared Brown with 2023 Gold Cup runner-up Convention. (George Williams)

Trainer Jared Brown is back at Assiniboia Downs earlier than usual this spring, eager to get his promising new crop of babies on the track.

"You’ve got to get them going early," said Brown as we walked through his barn on Thursday morning.

Brown purchased six yearlings at the Keeneland September Sale last fall, paying particular attention to pedigree and conformation. Normally in Turf Paradise in Phoenix at this time of year, Brown still has some horses there after that track’s late opening, but they’ll all soon be here.

As we continue through the shedrow, Brown points out the first horse, a strapping chestnut filly by Del Mar Futurity (G1) winner Klimt. "I knew I could buy a Klimt for a good price," said Brown. "His babies don't seem to sell well for some reason.”

He got her for $1,000.

Grooms Christine Greaves (left) and Dodie Chmilowsky with Welcome to Hollywood. (George Williams)

Next is a well-bred daughter of Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Omaha Beach out of a mare that is a half sister to Monmouth Breeders’ Cup Oaks (G3) winner Flying Glitter. Brown is partnered on the filly with owner John Ganas. Another filly, this one by multiple Grade 2 stakes winner Catalina Cruiser, was a bargain purchase for top Manitoba/owner breeder Cam Ziprick.

Brown’s stable star for now is 2023 ASD Gold Cup runner-up Convention, who also ran second in the Harvey Warner Manitoba Mile. The friendly 5-year-old gelding posed for a photo with Brown, as his trainer fed him peppermints. "Convention is the barn leader right now until these babies hopefully step up," said Brown. "His biggest win is still ahead of him."

Equicizer time at ASD! (George Williams)

In addition to the six babies already on the grounds, Brown is expecting more horses to arrive soon. He currently has a string of 10 horses at Turf Paradise overseen by his barn foreman and partner Susan Crane.

"I've got about 26 horses so far this year between here, Phoenix, some at the farm in Saskatchewan, and a few others I've claimed or bought privately," said Brown "And I haven't really started putting partnerships together and claiming yet."

For the 56-year-old conditioner, now in his 25th year of training at Assiniboia Downs, it’s the lifestyle that keeps him coming back each spring.

"Just being around the horses is the best part," he says simply, greeting his grooms Dodie Chmilowsky and Christine Greaves, who've worked for him for over a decade combined. "Some of my favourite horses over the years were Alpine Luck, Mixed Intent, and of course, champion claimer and sprinter Mark Ye Well.”

Brown has compiled a career record of 577-560-519 from 3,924 starts for purse earnings of $4,603,375. While he has yet to win a training title at the Downs, he has had some huge years here. He finished third in the standings in 2023, and second in both 2021 and 2022. He’s looking forward to 2024 at ASD with a solid mix of older horses and 2-year-olds, but he won’t be pushing the youngsters too hard.

"Two-year-olds to me aren't make or break at two," said Brown. "I just want to see how they progress, and have a good solid year overall. If we can get a couple stakes horses out of this group when they turn three and four, even better."

Brown has an excellent group of owners backing him including Kane Kachur, John Ganas, Lorna Gray, Pat Wallace, Ingrid Lee, Cam Ziprick and Violetta Adamczyk. His Omaha Beach filly fits perfectly with this bunch. Her name?

Welcome to Hollywood.

Assistant Track Superintendent Shane Ball filling the spreader with one of 23 loads of sand for the training track at ASD, which opens this Saturday. (George Williams)

LGCA Hiring for Horse Racing

The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba (LGCA) regulates the province’s liquor, gaming, cannabis, and horse racing industries. We license liquor sales, service and manufacturing, gaming employees, products, and operations; retail cannabis stores; and horse racing. We strive to serve the public interest by regulating these industries in a respectful, impartial, and balanced manner.

The LGCA is seeking highly motivated individuals to work within the Social Occasions and Horse Racing Department, which is part of the Operations Unit. The Race Administration Official / Race Administration Official-In-Training positions provide reasonable assurance that all horse racing activities licensed or authorized by the Liquor Gaming and Cannabis Authority (LGCA) are conducted safely, honestly, with integrity and in the public interest, and are operated in accordance with legislated requirements.

https://lgcamb.ca/job-postings/

Apply to:

Advertisement #42575 / #42576 / #42577

Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba

Human Resources

1055 Milt Stegall Drive

Winnipeg MB R3G 0Z6

Fax: 204-927-5384

Email: [email protected]

Download a copy of Condition Book #1 here or click on the image above.

Not Long Till Spring

Original painting by Tim Cox

"If we had no winter, spring would not be so pleasant." ~ Ann Bradstreet. "Not Long Till Spring" painted by Tim Cox. See more original paintings from Tim Cox here.

Road to the Kentucky Derby

• Jeff Ruby Steaks (TP) - Mar. 23 - 100 points
• Louisiana Derby (FG) - Mar. 23 - 100 points
• UAE Derby (Mey) - Mar. 30 - 100 points
• Florida Derby (GP) - Mar. 30 - 100 points
• Arkansas Derby (OP) - Mar. 30 - 100 points
• Wood Memorial (Bel) - Apr. 6 - 100 points
• Blue Grass (Kee) - Apr. 6 - 100 points
• Santa Anita Derby - Apr. 6 - 100 points
• Lexington (Kee) - Apr. 13 - 20 points

2024 Kentucky Derby points standings - here

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool #5 Friday, March 15 to Sunday, March 17 - click here

Easter Brunch - Sunday, March 31 - SOLD OUT

We are excited to announce our Easter Brunch on Sunday, March 31 in the Terrace Dining Room from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join us for a delicious brunch with your family and friends.

Our menu includes a variety of dishes such as:

• Sliced Certified Angus Prime Rib in Mushroom Sauce
• Carved Ham with Grilled Pineapple
• Scrambled Eggs with Green Onion
• Eggs Benedict
• Omelette Station
• Bacon
• Sausage
• Hashbrowns
• French Toast
• Caesar Salad
• Broccoli Salad
• Golden Beet Salad
• Wild Rice Salad
• Cheddar Cheese, Kolbassa & Pickles
• Smoked Sockeye Salmon Pizza
• Rolls, Flatbreads and Butter
• Croissants
• Sliced Fruit & Berries
• Cakes & Pastries

Tickets are priced at $39.95 (adults), $22.95 (12 & under), and $9.95 (5 & under). To purchase tickets, please call Samantha at 204-885-3330. 

This event sells out every year so order your tickets today!

Can't make it to the track to wager?

Watch and wager at one of our off-track betting 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

"I Won Bigg" Wagering Group

Saturday at 10:30 a.m. (2nd floor plaza)

Join the "I Won Bigg" wagering group this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. The wagering group is open to everyone. This week they will be playing Tampa and Santa Anita. $20 per share. If you would like more information please email Larry.

While Tom Dodds is not in the above photo, he had "Hasty" in his barn for some time. He described him as a horse that gave it his all every time out. Tom said this lower-level claimer never lost a race because of a lack of effort. "He was all heart and ran his eyeballs out every time he ran." (Gerry Hart photo)

Domestic Product Nips No More Time in Tampa Bay Derby

A tote issue that delayed post time prevented many from wagering

Domestic Product (green cap) wins a close Tampa Bay Derby photo. (SV Photography)

Neither a post time delay of more than a half-hour due to a tote outage, nor a sluggish pace, could stop strong-finishing Domestic Product from winning the March 9 Tampa Bay Derby (G3), which was run as a non-wagering race. More from the Blood Horse here.

165th King’s Plate: First Look at Early Contenders

My Boy Prince tops King's Plate contenders on Canadian Thoroughbred's first look

Sahin Civaci guides My Boy Prince to victory for owner Gary Barber and trainer Mark Casse in the $200,000 Simcoe Stakes. (Woodbine/ Michael Burns Photo)

The King’s Plate may be over five months away, but it's never too early to get an early list of horses to watch with Woodbine slated to open in just over 50 days. The 165th Plate is set for Saturday, August 17 and of course the Woodbine Oaks, the 3-year-old filly equivalent, will be held a month earlier. More from Jennifer Morrison at the Canadian Thoroughbred here.

Kentucky Derby Rankings by Steve Haskin

The Road to the Derby, March 11, 2024 – Week 8

"Another race this week in which we learned nothing, so we’re back to 15 and keeping the list somewhat elite, while letting the rest of them fight it out in the big 100-point races. There is so little separating many of these horses the order is virtually meaningless until further developments and racing results reveal which true Derby contenders will emerge from the pack. ~ Steve Haskin. Read more at Secretariat.com here.