The Inside Track | Issue #127 | April 12, 2024 | |
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ASD Hours
- Open daily from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
- VLT machines are sanitized between use
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2024 Live Race Dates
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Monday, May 20 to Tuesday, September 17 - click here for schedule
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In this edition . . .
- What's happening at the Downs?
- There's always a Deal at ASD!
- Lucky Horses, Lucky Groom
- 2024 Condition Book #1
- 2024 Shipping Incentive Program
- Summer Memories 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: That's Nora
- Sierra Leone Impressive in Bluegrass
- Stronghold Game in Santa Anita Derby
- Wood Winner Resilience Derby Bound
- Steve Haskin's Derby Rankings Week 12
- The Best of Bob - Yorkshire Lad
- Upcoming Events
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Upcoming Handicapping Tournaments
Player's Choice Tournaments:
- This 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
- Player's Choice - Saturday, March 16 - Winner: Don Allard
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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!
April Games for Cash
Lucky Stars: Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Enter for your chance to pick a lucky star for up to $100 CASH!
Lucky Spins: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Enter for a chance to get $20 in free VLT spins! Keep what you win.
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There's Always a Deal at ASD! | |
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$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.
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At The Post with G.S. Thompson | |
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Lucky Horses, Lucky Groom
Groom School overflowing with students, Main track opens
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Groom school student Natalie Gregory is currently working for trainer Tiffany Husbands and loves spending time with her horses. The feeling is obviously mutual. (George Williams) | |
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The main track is open, over 270 horses are on the grounds and the HBPA Groom School has a waiting list!
It wasn’t long ago that the Groom School could barely get enough students, but something has changed and young people are applying in droves to work with horses. There are currently 25 students in training to be grooms and another 24 on the waiting list.
“We have far exceeded our expectations,” said HBPA Office Manager Shannon Dawley, who thinks positive word-of-mouth is the reason for the sudden influx of students. “Everyone who has gone through the program has given us very positive feedback, and we continue to make small changes to make the program better, but the interest is insane.”
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Reigning ASD leading rider Antonio Whitehall working a horse on the main track Thursday morning. (George Williams) | |
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At a time when backstretches across North America are starving for good grooms, Assiniboia Downs finds itself in a garden spot, which is great news for trainers, especially those who ship in from south of the border.
Grooms can make an average of between $650 to $700 per week at the track once they graduate from the school. For some who love horses, it’s the perfect summer job. For others, it can turn into a year-round passion.
Groom school student Natalie Gregory moved to Winnipeg from Toronto two years ago and now finds herself in the barn of trainer Tiffany Husbands loving what she’s doing. Her dad was a groom at Woodbine when he was young.
“I've always been around horses,” said Gregory. “Growing up my bedtime stories were always about the good old days at the racetrack. And I grew up riding English, so when I saw online that they were looking to hire grooms, I applied, and here I am.”
And she has a law degree. “I'm not doing anything with that right now,” said Gregory. “It wasn't what I want to pursue, so now I'm just kind of figuring things out and I really like what I’m doing.”
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Jockeys Sven Balroop (outside) and Prayven Badrie exercising a pair of youngsters on the main track for trainer Mike Nault. (George Williams) | |
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Gregory said the transition from English riding horses to thoroughbreds at the track is a little different, as you look after more horses at the racetrack and the tacking is done in the stall rather than in the shedrow, but other than that the learning curve has been smooth.
“My horse friends think it's super cool,” said Gregory. “And my city friends think it's cool, but from a distance. A lot of them ask about the horses being so big and unpredictable, and things like that. But you just have to be paying attention to their body language, and it's just about keeping them safe and you safe and staying calm and being confident.”
Gregory begins her day around 5:30 a.m. and finishes around 11 a.m. and loves being in the barn.
“Being around the horses,” said Gregory. “It's a lot of hard work, but it's super rewarding. You get to know the horses and you bond with them, and you have good days and bad days. They have good days and bad days too, but they're just big, cuddly toddlers, basically 1,100 pounds of baby.
“They know it’s you the second that you walk through the door of the barn. They know when you're here. They know who they like. And they're really snuggly and happy. It feels good taking care of a living being and making sure that they're taken care of well and treated properly.”
Lucky horses. Lucky groom.
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Jockey Renaldo Cumberbatch returning from exercise on the main track Thursday morning. (George Williams) | |
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Sincere Condolences: Shaun Morin
Longtime trainer and horse owner passes away
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We are sad to announce that longtime owner/trainer Shaun Morin passed away on April 6.
Shaun was no stranger to racing in western Canada, making friends and connections at every track he raced at. At Assiniboia Downs, you would often find a gathering of horse people in Shaun’s tack room, whether it be for a mid-morning coffee, or just a chat. Shaun was a great listener with a magnetic personality, and he will be very much missed by all.
Our sincere condolences to Shaun's family and many friends. Read more on the HBPA Manitoba Facebook page here.
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Download a copy of Condition Book #1 here or click on the image above. | |
"Be nice to each other. You can make a whole day a different day for everybody." ~ Richard Dawson. "Summer Memories" painted by Tim Cox. See more original paintings from Tim Cox here. | |
Mother's Day Brunch sells out every year so don't be disappointed and order your tickets today! Call 204-885-3330. | |
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Looking for a Special Photo of Your Big Horse or...?
Track Photographer Jason Halstead may have just what you're looking for
| Groom Skyla Blanchard leads Manitoba-bred Justlemmeatem (Vengeful Wildcat-Siphon Vice by Siphon) out of the winner's circle after his win in the 2023 CTHS Sales at ASD for owner/breeder Dr. Betty Hughes and trainer Devon Gittens. (Jason Halstead / Assiniboia Photo) | 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 😊 | Watch and wager on world class racing from the comfort of your private carrel in our race book located on the 2nd level of the grandstand. The race book is open daily at 10 a.m. Can't make it to the track? Visit one of our partner locations listed below or wager at HPIbet.com. Click here for a list of tracks to wager on during the month of April. | Trainer Larry Cizik had his hands full with this enthusiastic chestnut on Thursday morning, but handled it like a pro! (George Williams) | |
5% Cash Back on Oaklawn
Earn 5% cash back on Oaklawn on Saturday, April 13 when you wager a minimum of $100. Maximum cash back $50. ($2.10 payouts not included). All wagers must be made on your HPI account. Opt-in at HPIbet.com.
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- Turf Paradise (April 15) - Jackpot Pick 6 carryover $348,928
- Mahoning Valley (April 13) - Jackpot Pick 6 carryover $105,393
- Gulfstream (April 12) - Jackpot Pick 6 carryover $78,357
See all carryovers here.
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Trainer Steven Gaskin adjusting the bit on the HPBA Groom School training horse. And it never moved a muscle :) (George Williams) | |
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Can't make it to the track to wager?
Watch and wager at one of our off-track betting locations:
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Trainer Devon Gittens (outside) and jockey Shavon Belle preparing a pair of youngsters for the races on the main track Thursday morning. (George Williams) | |
"I Won Bigg" Wagering Group | |
Join the "I Won Bigg" wagering group this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. The wagering group is open to everyone. With Santa Anita not racing this week, the group will play Tampa and Keeneland. $20 per share. If you would like more information please email Larry. | |
A Snapshot in Time
by Track Historian Bob Gates
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60 years have passed since a baby-faced Jimmy Anderson rode That’s Nora to victory on August 10, 1964. This win was one of seven in his second year of riding at Assiniboia Downs. On June 15, 1981 Jim won on Tilt Quiz to become, at that time, the “winningest” jockey at the Downs with 725 victories. (Bob Barnes photo) | |
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Solidifies himself as top Kentucky Derby contender with long sustained rally
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Sierra Leone rallies for a victory over Just a Touch to win the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) on Saturday at Keeneland. (Coady Photo) | |
No horse over the first two days of the Keeneland spring meeting had made a long, sustained run from well off the pace and done more than spin his wheels. But then no horse on the first two days of the Keeneland meet was Sierra Leone. More from the Daily Racing Form here. | |
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'The further the better' says trainer Phil D'Amato as Kentucky Derby beckons
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Stronghold prevailed by a neck in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) after a hard fought battle with favourite Imagination. (Benoit Photo) | |
All was well with Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Stronghold the morning after his thrilling victory Saturday in the 87th running of Santa Anita’s most prestigious race for 3-year-olds, the Santa Anita Derby (G1). “He came out of the race in great shape,” said trainer Phil D’Amato, who also thinks his horse is going to love the distance of the Kentucky Derby. More from the Paulick Report here. | |
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Wood Memorial winner Derby bound for former stallion manager
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Resilience punched his ticket to the Kentucky Derby with a victory in the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct last Saturday. (NYRA) | |
When recent Wood Memorial winner Resilience was a foal, he carried himself in the way that elite racehorses do; with a self-assured manner that showed he knew what was expected of a horse with his pedigree. That confidence was on full display last Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack. More from the Canadian Thoroughbred here. | |
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The Road to the Derby, April 8, 2024 – Week 12
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"Well, the Kentucky Derby picture is as clear as it is going to get, except for who the true No. 1 horse is. We will have a little time to ponder it during a short break next week to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Smarty Jones’ memorable Kentucky Derby victory. Because of the time off, the comments on some of the top contenders are even longer than usual. If anything breaks or there are any revelations to share, we will post a modified Derby Rankings next Thursday and place Smarty in the archives." ~ Steve Haskin. Read more at Secretariat.com here. | |
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Best of Bob
by ASD Historian Bob Gates
Bob’s weekly trip through racing’s time tunnel takes us back to the early days of Polo Park and Whittier Park and the famed Yorkshire Lad. Who? Find out here. (From June 19, 2019)
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Upcoming events at ASD
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Lucky Stars - Monday to Friday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. - more info
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Lucky Spins - Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. - more info
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Player's Choice Handicapping Tournament - Saturday, April 13 - more info
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Kentucky Derby, Saturday, May 4 - more info
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Player's Choice Handicapping Tournament - Saturday, May 11 - more info
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Mother's Day Brunch - Sunday, May 12 - more info
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Live Racing - Victoria Day - Monday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m. - more info
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The Inside Track Archives |
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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