Derby card is highlight of meeting
TORONTO, Ontario - It will be status quo this year for the stakes program at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Thirty stakes races worth a combined $1.25 million are on tap for the 70-day meeting, which runs from May 6 through Sept. 24. The highlight once again will be the Manitoba Lotteries Derby.
An open 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds, the $100,000 Manitoba Lotteries Derby is the meet's most lucrative race, and will be run on the Civic Holiday program Aug. 7 along with three $40,000 stakes: the Jack Hardy, Wheat City, and Winnipeg Futurity.
Other highlights include the Matron Breeders' Cup and Gold Breeders' Cup, both of which offer purses of $65,000, including $25,000 in Breeders' Cup funds, and will be run on the closing weekend of the meeting.
Racing secretary Ray Miller said the training track has been open since the beginning of March, and the main track should open in early April.
2006 stakes schedule
| DATE | EVENT | CONDITIONS | DISTANCE | PURSE |
| Sat.June 3 | GOLDEN BOY | 3YO | 6 furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sun.June 4 | LA VERENDRYE | F&M, 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sun.June 11 | CHANTILLY | 3YO F | 6 furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sun.June 18 | FREE PRESS | 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sat.June 24 | MANITOBA | C&G, 3YO* | 1 mile | 40,000 |
| Sat. July 1 | CANADA DAY | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 mile | 40,000 |
| Sun.July 2 | NORTH DAKOTA DERBY | 3YO | 1 mile | 20,000 |
| Sat.July 8 | MATURITY | 4YO* | 1 1/16 miles | 40,000 |
| Sat.July 15 | DEBUTANTE | 2YO F | 5 1/2 furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sun.July 16 | DERBY TRIAL | 3YO | 1 1/16 miles | 40,000 |
| Sat.July 22 | R.C. ANDERSON | 3YO F* | 1 mile | 40,000 |
| Sun. Jul. 23 | FRANK ARNASON | 2YO* | 6 furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sat. Jul. 29 | NORTH DAKOTA STALLION | 3YO | 1 1/16 miles | 20,000 |
| Sun.Aug. 6 | WINNIPEG SUN | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | 40,000 |
| Mon.Aug. 7 | MANITOBA LOTTERIES DERBY | 3YO | 1 1/8 miles | 100,000 |
| Mon.Aug. 7 | JACK HARDY | 3YO F | 1 mile | 40,000 |
| Mon.Aug. 7 | WHEAT CITY | 3YO & Up | 1 mile | 40,000 |
| Mon.Aug. 7 | WINNIPEG FUTURITY | 2YO | 6 furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sat.Aug. 19 | AGASSIZ | C&G, 3YO & Up* | 1 mile | 40,000 |
| Sun.Aug. 20 | NORTH DAKOTA STALLION | 2YO | 6 furlongs | 30,000 |
| Sun.Aug. 27 | HARRY JEFFREY | 3YO | 1 1/8 miles | 40,000 |
| Sat.Sept. 2 | R.J. SPEERS | 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | 40,000 |
| Sun.Sept. 3 | ASSINIBOIA OAKS | 3YO F | 1 1/16 miles | 40,000 |
| Sun.Sept. 4 | NORTH DAKOTA FUTURITY | 2YO | 6 furlongs | 25,000 |
| Mon.Sept. 4 | DISTAFF | F&M, 3YO & Up* | 1 mile | 40,000 |
| Mon.Sept. 4 | CTHS SALES | 2YO | 6 furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sat.Sept. 16 | J.W. SIFTON | 3YO* | 1 1/8 miles | 40,000 |
| Sun.Sept. 17 | BUFFALO | 2YO* | 1 mile | 40,000 |
| Sat.Sept.. 23 | MATRON BREEDERS' CUP | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles | 65,000 |
| Sun.Sept. 24 | GOLD BREEDERS' CUP | 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles | 65,000 |
*Manitoba-bred