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DID YOU HEAR THE LATEST?
Stay up-to-date with the latest news from Assiniboia Downs.
| | ISSUE #190 - JUNE 27, 2025 | | Leading trainer Steve Keplin, Jr. (holding trophy on right) won three of the four stakes carded this week at Assiniboia Downs. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) | | |
Steve Keplin, Jr., Prayven Badrie, Win Three of Four Stakes
Trainer Steve Keplin, Jr. and jockey Prayven Badrie won three of the four stakes this week and opened up in the standings, while five-time leading trainer Jerry Gourneau returned to the fray with an exclamation point, winning the Golden Boy Stakes.
Wagering continued to be strong, bolstered by increasingly larger on-track crowds enjoying the beautiful summer weather. Aren’t we all!
CLICK HERE to read more.
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Live Racing this Tuesday & Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
Live racing continues every Tuesday and Wednesday evening along with select Mondays (July 14, August 4, August 25, and September 15.) Post time is 7:30 p.m.—and as always, admission and parking are free! New to racing or need a refresher on how to bet? Visit Shannon and Brad at the Fan Education Centre on the main level—they’re happy to help and answer all your questions.
CLICK HERE for schedule
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Canada Day at Assiniboia Downs
Join us on Canada Day, Tuesday, July 1st at Assiniboia Downs for an unforgettable evening! Live racing kicks off at 7:30 p.m., with free family fun activities, followed by a spectacular fireworks display presented by CanFire Pyrotechnics.
Stick Around After the Fireworks!
Once the fireworks show wraps up, there’s no need to rush—concessions and bars will remain open! Enjoy the music and keep the fun going while traffic clears from the parking lot. Sit back, relax, and make the most of your night at Assiniboia Downs!
Admission is free but please note there will be a $10 parking charge after 8 p.m.
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Live Racing Prime Rib Buffet
Get ready to indulge in the ultimate dining experience at the track. Savour melt-in-your-mouth Certified Angus Prime Rib carved to perfection, plus a delicious variety of chicken and seafood dishes, rotating entrée selections, and so much more! Adults: $59.95, Seniors (65+): $54.95, Kids (6–12): $34.95, Kids (5 & under): $22.95. Call 204-885-3330 to reserve your table .
| | Groom Parker Wallette leads Ginas Serenade into the winner's circle after her victory in the Chantilly Stakes on Wednesday for trainer Steve Keplin, Jr. and owner Arnason Farms. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo). Click photo to enlarge. | | |
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 😊
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A Snapshot in Time by Bob Gates
The Downs has conducted thoroughbred horse racing across eight different decades. The opening of Jack Hardy’s Downs marked the beginning of a new era in Manitoba racing. When the Portage Avenue track held its inaugural card on June 10, 1958, Winnipeg had been without horse racing since Polo Park Racetrack closed its gates on July 4, 1956. From Jack Hardy to Jim Wright, and now under the leadership of the Manitoba Jockey Club, the Downs has survived receivership, fire, and a global pandemic—proving its resilience as it looks to the future. (Bob Gates)
| | MANDATORY PAYOUT ALERT: Gulfstream Park will have a mandatory payout of the Jackpot Pick 6 on Sunday, June 29. The current carryover as of Friday, June 27 is $68,871. | | Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. (Churchill Downs Media) | | |
Hall of Fame Trainer D. Wayne Lukas Hospitalized
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, one of the most prolific trainers and influences in horse racing history, has been hospitalized in Louisville, Ky. and will not return to training, according to Lukas family members.
According to the family, Lukas, 89, has battled a severe infection that has worsened his condition.
-- Canadian Thoroughbred
| | Teddy bears can be found in abundance in Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield's barn at Woodbine. | | |
VIDEO: Why Does Trainer Roger Attfield Hang Teddy Bears Outside His Stalls?
It's not hard to spot the Roger Attfield shedrow at Woodbine, or anywhere else the dual Hall of Fame trainer might be stabled: Just look for the teddy bears.
The stuffed animals have become a staple of his operation, but why does he do it, and where does he get so many of them?
-- Paulick Report
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Bob's Blog
A Day at the Races
Another special anniversary? The history guy got all caught up when he ‘found’ a program from a day at the races 75 years ago. A gift from A.E. “Bert” Blake, the patriarch of Assiniboia Downs, provides the foundation for this week’s blog. What did Bob discover in the June 26, 1950 program from Polo Park racetrack? Click here to uncover what he found from 75 years ago.
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Feedback & Inside Track Archives
We would love to hear from you! Email your comments and/or suggestions to theinsidetrack@ASDowns.com.
Did you know that past issues of The Inside Track are available on our website?
Click here to read them now.
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