Handle and attendance are up at Assiniboia

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Both attendance and handle at Assiniboia Downs showed increases at this year's 76-day live meeting, which ended Sept. 30.

The handle on the live races was up 8 percent to $10,074,462 for an average of $132,558 per day. Attendance rose to 147,150 from 140,927, an average of 1,936 patrons per day.

On the racetrack, jockey Rohan Singh and trainer Ardell Sayler successfully defended their titles.

Singh won six races on the closing weekend to finish with 82 victories. Tim Gardiner was second with 72 wins, followed by Alan Cuthbertson with 71.

Sayler took four races over the closing weekend to finish the season with 47 wins and lead the trainer standings here for the fourth time. Gary Danelson was second with 37 wins.

Jacques DesAutels won four of the first five races on closing day, including longshots With Papers ($34.60), Gilberts Folly ($83.50), and Will O Be Fast ($26.70).

Apprentice jockey Daniel Boudreau recorded the first win of his career with C Barney Run ($43.10) in the final race of the season.

Ness Godall won the closing-day Winnipeg Futurity for his fourth win in as many local appearances. In Sunday's co-feature, Saskatchewan's best beat Manitoba's best as Beau Ring won the Gold Cup over Kalfaari and Smoky Cinder. Beau Ring has won 13 of 19 starts.