Live Racing starts this Tuesday, May 12

• Live racing starts this Tuesday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m.
• Free Family Fun acitivities on opening night. Free family fun activities start at 6:00 p.m.
• Reservations are now open for our renowned all-you-can-eat Prime Rib Buffet which is available on Live Race Nights only.

Click here for full schedule.

Top Trainers Hit the Entry Box for Opening Evening Tuesday, May 12

Trainers began filling the entry box for the first time this year on Thursday, and you can be sure five-time leading trainer Jerry Gourneau was active at the box with his 40-horse stable of fit runners. And he’s apparently got more horses on the way for perennial Downs leading owner Henry S. Witt, Jr.

Other top trainers expected at the entry box on Thursday included Jason Homer, Wendy Anderson, Tom Gardipy, Jr., Eugene Burns, and Steve Keplin, Jr.

Gourneau finished third in the standings last year with 30 victories, behind leading trainer Steve Keplin, Jr. (40 wins) and Mike Nault (32 wins), after arriving late. It appeared he might catch Keplin at one point, but it wasn’t to be, and this year could be very different.

Full story here

Free $500 Cash Draws after Live Racing plus free $200 Cash Draws on the Weekends

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 $500 cash draws — after every Live Race Night

🎡 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.

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.

Mandatory Payouts



• Saturday, May 9 - Mandatory payout of the Jackpot Hi-5 at Mohawk Harness. Current carryover $183,866.
• Sunday, May 10 - Mandatory payout of the Jackpot Pick 6 at Gulfstream Park. Current carryover is $27,418.

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

This week’s featured shot isn’t so much about the horse as it is the young lady on the left side of the photo. Any guesses? Well, that’s a very young Joannie Phipps in the charmed circle when Bert Blake’s Thrice Blessed won on May 28, 1971. Blake missed the photo op, and naturally his number one rider, Bobby Stewart, was in the irons. (Gerry Hart photo)

Golden Tempo, Trainer Cherie DeVaux Make Derby History

The 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby will be remembered forever, as trainer Cherie DeVaux became the first female trainer in history to win the Run for the Roses.

Golden Tempo, a handsome dark bay son of Curlin, was a long way back for most of the race, before jockey Jose Ortiz asked him to run. What followed was one of the most sustained rallies Churchill Downs has ever seen, the colt wearing down rival Renegade, ridden by Jose's brother Irad, to win the $5 million classic. 

-- Canadian Thoroughbred

An Early Look at the Probable Field for the 2026 Preakness Stakes

The opening leg of the 2026 Triple Crown delivered an unforgettable finish and a historic moment as 23-1 longshot Golden Tempo surged to victory in the closing strides of the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, making trainer Cherie DeVaux the first woman to train a Derby winner.

Focus now shifts to the $2 million Preakness Stakes, which will be held for the first time at Laurel Park. Golden Tempo won't be there, but there is some serious talent lined up for what looks like a wide open race on May 16.

-- America's Best Racing

A Prize Greater Than Gold

And so ends another Kentucky Derby journey, which began back in January and got us through snowstorms, blizzards, and deep freezes.

As always, the journey ended with either cheers, excitement, and euphoria or disappointment and frustration, all wrapped up in a period of two minutes.

Before we know it, some 2-year-old will break his maiden in spectacular fashion at Saratoga or Del Mar and just like that, the seeds of next year’s roses will be sown.

But for now, it is on to Laurel and its 4,800 patrons and the next chapter of the Triple Crown, with or without Golden Tempo. ~ Steve Haskin

-- Secretariat.com

Bob's Blog

Well folks, Bob is back with new stories for the 2026 racing season. This week, our history guy has a little bit of everything for us: the Kentucky Derby, wagering records, retirements, updates on Gary Danelson and Murray Duncan, and we say goodbye to members of our horse racing family who have left us. Click here for Bob’s first swing at the plate for Assiniboia Downs’ 69th season of live racing.