Assiniboia Downs opens 50-day 2024 meet

Assiniboia Downs launches its 2024 season on Monday with a 50-day stand that largely mirrors the 2023 meet. Racing will be conducted on Mondays and Tuesdays until June 5, when Wednesdays are added. Wednesdays will then be dropped for the final two weeks of the meet, which concludes Sept. 17. Post time is 7:35 p.m. Central.

The track’s newest innovation is the elimination of run-ups to the start pole at all distances, an attempt to make the timing of races more accurate. The gate will be placed adjacent to the pole and the horses will be clocked as soon as they break, rather than approximately 25 feet before the pole as was previously the case.

“We know that the accuracy of the distances and timing of our racing is critical to our horseplayers, and we want to take full advantage of the technology to help serve our fans to the best of our ability,” Assiniboia Downs CEO Darren Dunn said. “We have been talking about it for a while now, and with the Equibase GPS system solving the technical concerns, there was nothing holding us back. We think it will add further transparency to the charts for horseplayers and anyone that follows our races and horses.”

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The second year of the revived Western Canadian Derby Series comprises the $125,000 Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia on Aug. 5; the Grade 3, $200,000 Canadian Derby at Century Mile in Edmonton on Aug. 24; and the Grade 3, $125,000 British Columbia Derby at Hastings in Vancouver on Sept. 14.

The series will offer a $100,000 bonus for the horse that is able to win all three races. A new points system will provide $25,000 in bonuses to the owners and trainers that have competed in at least two of the three events. Points will be awarded based on their finish position in each of the legs and will also have points awarded for owners and trainers that run in all three races.

“[Assiniboia] is so pleased to continue to work with our western partner racetracks on this exciting and rewarding Derby series.” Dunn said. “This year’s rendition has been bolstered by additional reward money targeted at participation and excellence in results and should only lead to larger fields, increased wagering, and an elevated experience for all of our customers.”

Dunn said the horse population is on a par with last year, at around 550 horses and the rider colony has increased marginally to 21 jockeys.

“There are three returning former champions in Antonio Whitehall, Chavion Chow, and Prayven Badrie, and a promising young apprentice jockey out of the Caribbean in Rachaad Knights,” Dunn pointed out.

The two new trainers on the scene are Carlos Moreno from Arizona and Dave Gould from Lethbridge, Alberta. Perennial leading trainer Jerry Gourneau is back with the largest stable at over 40 horses, according to Dunn.

The takeout rates for daily double, exactor, pick three, pick five, superfecta, triactor, and Super Hi-5 have all been reduced from 21.95 percent to 20.95 percent.

Six five-furlong races were drawn for opening night, during which four Indian horse relays are scheduled.

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