Lesser stakes get financial aid
The Manitoba Derby, which lost its Grade 3 status and had its purse reduced by 25 percent, still holds bragging rights as the richest race at Winnipeg's Assiniboia Downs this year.
The $75,000 Manitoba Derby, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds on Aug. 2, tops a list of 31 stakes worth a total of $2.63 million at the 75-day meeting. The Graduation Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings was eliminated from the schedule this year.
Racing secretary Ray Miller explained that the cuts were made to allow Assiniboia to increase the purses for 20 stakes from $35,000 to $40,000, the minimum purse requisite for black-type status. Also, three stakes for Manitoba-breds went from $35,000 to $41,000, that odd total being the result of contributions from the Manitoba division of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society.
The Assiniboia meeting begins May 2 and winds up Oct. 3. The closing-day feature will be Gold Breeders' Cup, which along with the Oct. 2 Matron is one of two $65,000 races on the calendar supported by $25,000 from the Breeders' Cup Fund.
2004 Assiniboia stakes schedule
| DATE | EVENT | CONDITIONS | DISTANCE | PURSE |
| Sat.., June 5 | GOLDEN BOY | 3YO | 6 Furlongs | $40,000 |
| Sun., June 6 | CHANTILLY | 3YO F | 6 Furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sun., June 13 | LA VERENDRYE | 3YO & Up F/M | 6 Furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sun., June 20 | FREE PRESS | 3YO & Up | 6 Furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sat., June 26 | MANITOBA | 3YO C/G* | 1 Mile | 40,000 |
| Thur., July 1 | CANADA DAY | 3YO & Up F/M | 1 Mile | 40,000 |
| Sat., July 3 | R.C. ANDERSON | 3YO F* | 1 Mile | 40,000 |
| Sun., July 4 | NORTH DAKOTA DERBY | 3YO | 1 Mile | 20,000 |
| Sat., July 10 | MATURITY | 4YO* | 1 1/16 Miles | 41,000 |
| Sun., July 11 | DERBY TRIAL | 3YO | 1 1/16 Miles | 40,000 |
| Sun., July 18 | DEBUTANTE | 2YO F | 5 1/2 Furlongs | 40,000 |
| Fri., Jul. 30 | NORTH DAKOTA STALLION | 3YO | 1 1/16 Miles | 20,000 |
| Sun., Jul. 31 | FRANK ARNASON | 2YO* | 6 Furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sat. Aug. 1 | WINNIPEG SUN | 3YO & Up F/M | 1 1/16 Miles | 40,000 |
| Mon., Aug. 2 | MANITOBA DERBY | 3YO | 1 1/8 Miles | 75,000 |
| WINNIPEG FUTURITY | 2YO | 6 Furlongs | 40,000 | |
| JACK HARDY | 3YO F | 1 Mile | 40,000 | |
| WHEAT CITY | 3YO & Up | 1 Mile | 40,000 | |
| Sat., Aug. 21 | AGASSIZ | 3YO & Up C/G* | 1 Mile | 40,000 |
| Sun., Aug. 22 | NORTH DAKOTA STALLION | 2YO | 6 Furlongs | 30,000 |
| Sun., Aug. 29 | HARRY JEFFREYS | 3YO | 1 1/8 Miles | 40,000 |
| Sun., Sept. 5 | NORTH DAKOTA FUTURITY | 2YO | 6 Furlongs | 25,000 |
| Mon., Sept. 6 | DISTAFF | 3YO & Up F/M* | 1 Mile | 40,000 |
| CTHS SALES | 2YO F | 6 Furlongs | 40,000 | |
| CTHS SALES | 2YO C/G | 6 Furlongs | 40,000 | |
| Sat., Sept. 11 | R.J. SPEERS | 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 Miles | 40,000 |
| Sun., Sept. 12 | ASSINIBOIA OAKS | 3YO F | 1 1/16 Miles | 40,000 |
| Sun., Sept. 19 | J.W. SIFTON | 3YO * | 1 1/8 Miles | 41,000 |
| Sun., Sept. 26 | BUFFALO | 2YO * | 1 Mile | 41,000 |
| Sat., Oct. 2 | MATRON BREEDERS' CUP | 3YO & Up F/M | 1 1/8 Miles | 65,000 |
| Sun., Oct. 3 | GOLD BREEDERS' CUP | 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 Miles | 65,000 |
*Restricted to Man.-bred