Assiniboia Downs still has five weeks and 11 nights of racing

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Published Sep 06, 2025 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 4 minute read

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Jockey Ronald Ali screams in celebration riding on Magic Tiger. There’s still plenty of time to catch a race at Assiniboia Downs. Photo by Jason Halstead /submitted photoArticle content

Historically, this is the final week of live racing at Assiniboia Downs.

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Usually, after the second week of September, the barns close, the trainers and jockeys head off to warmer competition and the annual awards are presented.

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But not this year, racing enthusiasts. It might be approaching mid-September but in 2025, there are still five weeks and 11 nights of racing remaining on the schedule.

“This year’s scheduling was strategic as it relates to our horse inventory,” said ASD CEO Darren Dunn. “It’s still a 50-day meet, as it has been in recent years, but we’ve really tried to manage the inventory to the absolute best of our ability. That, of course, that is something we’ve always done, but the extra length of the meet — starting earlier and finishing later — lent itself to horses getting additional rest and maybe an extra start or two. It’s proved to be quite successful so far, and as a result, field sizes continue to be up, and we have a strong inventory going into the last month.”

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The fact the season is going deeper into the cooler weather in Winnipeg might deter some punters from showing up at the track. However, there are still seven Stakes’ races ahead of us and three of them are considered “Major” races.

“I mean, the Majors would be the Futurity (Sept. 30), the Matron (Sept. 16), and the Gold Cup (Sept. 16),” Dunn explained. “The Osiris (Sept. 10) is a 50-grander and I’m not making light of that, but the Buffalo Stakes (Oct. 1), the Sifton (Sept. 10) and the Distaff (Sept. 9) are Manitoba-bred races. Significant races, but the entries are restricted to Manitoba, Saskatchewan and North Dakota. In my mind, the remaining Majors, after the Derby and the Oaks, are the Futurity, which will stamp the champion two-year-old, the Manitoba Matron, which will decide the older mare of the year and, of course, the Gold Cup, my favourite race of the season, will declare our overall champion and determine the best horse on the grounds.

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“So, the Derby and the Oaks for three-year-olds, the Futurity for two-year-olds, the Matron and the Gold Cup for older mares and horses, are the pillars of our Stakes program — the five races that people put the most weight on. And the Gold Cup is basically the Assiniboia Downs version of the Breeders’ Cup Classic.”

Dunn makes no bones about the fact that he loves the Gold Cup. Last year, Magic Tiger came from off the pace to become the upset — and repeat — winner in the 67th running of the $50,000 race.

“I love it because it features the best horses at ASD going the most challenging distance — the longest distance we run each season — a mile and an eighth, just like the Derby. Same thing for the Matron, a mile and an eighth. The Gold Cup is the race to determine the absolute best horse of the meet, and it flies a little under the radar after the Manitoba Derby. However, for those three-year-olds from the Derby, that want to take on the older horses, this is Graduation Day.

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Entries for the Gold Cup don’t close until Sept. 12, but Dunn has a good idea of what this year’s field will look like.

“We’re speculating here, but of course, Judo, for Steve Keplin Jr., should be in the field,” Dunn said. “He’d won six in a row before losing the Already Dia Overnight Stakes to Malibu SS for Jerry Gourneau and Henry Witt. But still, Judo won the Harvey Warner Manitoba Mile, the R.J. Speers and the FP Stakes and without a doubt will wear the bullseye as the horse to beat in the Gold Cup.

“I think Judo and Malibu SS will go head-to-head, but you know, last year’s winner, Magic Tiger, rallied to a quality third in the Already Dia Overnight Stakes, and he’s the two-time defending champ of the Gold Cup. I’d never put anything past the skill of trainer Wendy Anderson to get a horse ready to win. So, you’re going to get a great price with Magic Tiger, who’s going to try and, you know, win back-to-back-back Gold Cups.

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“On paper right now, it appears to be the rematch between Judo and Malibu SS, and that stage is set for a real epic battle. But Magic Tiger is intriguing because I don’t think any horse has ever won three straight Gold Cups. That would be one for the ages and I’m looking forward to it already.”

Meanwhile, with 11 nights of racing remaining, Steve Keplin Jr. would appear to have a lock on the Trainers’ Championship, while Damario Bynoe (40 wins), Antonio Whitehall (37) and Sven Balroop (33) are in a real battle for the jockey title.

“We still have five weeks of great racing in front of us,” said Dunn enthusiastically. “Let’s get on that horse and ride it to the end.”

Check out our sports section for the latest news and analysis. Care for a wager? Head to our sports betting section for news and odds.

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Assiniboia Downs still has five weeks and 11 nights of racing

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