Assiniboia concludes highly successful season with carryovers in the Jackpot Pick 5 and Hi 5

Tuesday is the final day of the 2020 Assiniboia Downs meet; and what a meet it has been. Through 48 days, total handle at the Winnipeg, Manitoba, track is $58,577,198, with a daily average of $1,220,358.

Last year $12,467,855 was wagered over 50 days with a daily average of $249,357.

The differences are staggering, and with COVID 19 ramping up before they opened in May, management was not sure if they were going to race at all.

Assinoboia was the first Thoroughbred track to open in Canada this year, though, and it raced on Mondays and Tuesdays with little competition from other tracks. Assiniboia eventually had more competition but Assiniboia had found a following and its supporters stuck with them.

“In what could have been a catastrophic outcome, had we not achieved a license to race, we ultimately produced a Thoroughbred season in Winnipeg for the ages,” said Darren Dunn, CEO of Assiniboia Downs.

:: Start earning weekly cashback on your wagering today. Click to learn more.

As is the new normal in the COVID-19 era, no fans were allowed at the track.

“While we are still experiencing challenges in a number of our revenue areas such as food and beverage and facility rentals, the success of our global live race signal backfilled those deficits very well,” said Dunn. “Our team worked incredibly hard to overcome some of the greatest hurdles that have ever come our way.

“From the initial challenge of missing revenues, unfortunate but necessary staff layoffs, to losing 80 percent of our international jockey colony, and U. S. horsemen cancellations due to travel restrictions just to name a few. To find ourselves in such a strong position as we close out our meet, is nothing short of amazing and we are so thankful.”

Expect more of the same on the final two days. Tuesday there are mandatory payouts for the Jackpot Pick 5 and Jackpot Hi 5. Going into Monday’s card there is a $179,010 carryover for the pick five and a $77,183 carryover in the Hi 5. Plus, there is a $50,000-guaranteed pool for the pick four on both days.

Tuesday’s eight-race card begins with the $30,000 Buffalo Stakes for 2-year-old fillies foaled in Manitoba. Melisandre, undefeated in three starts, looks formidable in the one-mile race, which drew six horses. Post time is 7:35 p.m. Central.

Trained by Michael Nault, Melisandre will break from post 5 with Stanley Chadee Jr. riding.

There are full fields for the pick five, which begins on race 4. Barring scratches, 58 horses will start in the five races that make up a tough sequence.

Trainer Jerry Gourneau will walk away with the training title. Going into Monday, Gourneau has 70 wins. Tom Gardipy Jr. is second in the standings with 37.

Antonio Whitehall is home and cooled out in the race for leading jockey. He has 73 wins with Chadee next in line with 45.