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Western Canadian Triple Crown Unveiled

Assiniboia Downs, Century Mile and Hastings Racecourse have joined forces to create a new Western Canadian Triple Crown debuting in 2023. The series begins with the $125,000 Manitoba Derby Aug. 7, continues with the $200,000 GIII Canadian Derby Aug. 26 and concludes with the $125,000 GIII British Columbia Derby Sept. 16.

In addition to $450,000 in purse money, there will be an additional $100,000 bonus should a horse win all three races.

“To link a meaningful financial bonus to the already robust purse offerings should only elevate the participation and competitiveness of the races,” said Darren Dunn, Assiniboia Downs Chief Executive Officer. “It also results in a rewarding outcome for both the racing fans and related horse connections. We are excited to work collaboratively with our western provincial partners who are so energized to put an even brighter spotlight on these historic Derby events.”

Allen Goodsell, Racing Manager at Century Casinos, praised officials at both Assiniboia Downs and Hastings Racecourse for the teamwork needed to create the series.

“This initiative will bring additional fanfare and excitement to Western Canada's premier races for 3-year-olds,” Goodsell said. “We look forward to additional collaboration in the future which only strengthens our collective industries.”

Nichelle Milner, BC Director of Racing, looked forward to expanding the series' rewards in the future.

“A Western Canadian Triple Crown has such great potential,” Milner said. “I can see eventually awarding points for first, second and third place finishes and have the top three connections profit from it. We're thrilled to be part of it.”

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Canada’s Assiniboia Downs Wraps Up Solid Meet

Assiniboia Downs recorded near-record wagering for the 2022 meet, which ended Sept. 28. with the second-highest wagering handle in the track's history. A total of $55,326,730 was wagered over the 50-day meet, which was second only to the amount recorded in 2020.

“To conclude this season with the positive results we achieved is a true testament to the team we have out here working for us, and the will and determination of the horse people involved at all levels,” said CEO Darren Dunn. “It seemed challenge followed us throughout 2022. We lost our Board Chair, Harvey Warner, unexpectedly during spring training and then saw a long winter and late wet spring force our hand to adjust the racing calendar. Add a lightning storm and a track lighting outage that caused further cancelled races that had to be made up and it was a live race meet that will not soon be forgotten.”

North Dakota's Jerry Gourneau captured the Assiniboia Downs training title, his fourth in the last five years. Jorge Carreno took honors as the leading jockey, making it his second consecutive title at Assiniboia.

Assiniboia Downs is open year-round for daily simulcasting. The live Thoroughbred season for 2023 will begin May 22.

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No Violations Found in Review of Assiniboia Downs Race, Assiniboia’s CEO Disagrees

A determination has been reached in the unusual stretch run of Assiniboia Downs Racetrack's fifth race July 20, with no rules found to be violated and no change to the order of finish. The Manitoba Jockey Club (MJC), non-profit operator of Assiniboia Downs, had formally requested that its provincial regulator, the Liquor, Gaming & Cannabis Authority (LGCA), conduct a review after jockey Sheldon Chickeness, aboard King Witt (Five Demon Bag), turned for home approximately five lengths in front before appearing to pull his mount up and allowing much of the field to pass. He then re-rallied to finish second.

In a letter from LGCA's Director of Operations Natasha Hohol, MPA, she said, “The LGCA initiated our standard investigative processes. In this case, this included such steps as interviewing witnesses, analyzing video replay, and reviewing wagering data. The LGCA has determined that no Rules of Thoroughbred Racing were violated. Therefore, adjustments to the order of finish are not required.”

Darren Dunn, CEO of Assiniboia Downs, indicated officials at the Manitoba track “strongly disagree with the conclusion.” The official statement from Dunn follows in full:

“I want to start by indicating from the outset that we understand and fully respect the right and responsibility that our regulator has to make the determination that they did related to this race. At the same time, I want to identify and recognize our right as the operator to respond to their findings and, to be clear, we strongly disagree with the conclusion they arrived at from this review.

“Our interpretation of the race is that the horse, King Witt, to our understanding, may have previously exhibited tendencies in how he navigates the turn for home and the early stretch drive of the racetrack that caused the jockey to believe that with a potential repeat of those tendencies, the safety of the other horses and jockeys in the race were in jeopardy and that this was reflected in his actions, exhibiting his concern.

“And, while we will always support and encourage efforts of jockeys to be safe in the saddle for themselves, their fellow riders and the horses in the race, a distinction, in our opinion, should be made when these actions occur and then affect the possible and likely ultimate outcome of the race through an overreaction by a jockey. We believe, in our opinion, that jockey Sheldon Chickeness did overcompensate in his handling of his mount, likely related to a safety concern, but given the clear lead the horse had at the time, he did affect, in our opinion, the final outcome of the race and the order of finish.

“We believe that, while consideration and understanding could be given to his safety intent, overriding this was the need to protect the wagering public in ensuring the integrity of the race remained intact and that the overcompensation by jockey Sheldon Chickeness should have been met with a determination of significant discipline against him.”

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Assiniboia Downs Requests Review of Race

The Manitoba Jockey Club, operator of Assiniboia Downs Racetrack, has requested that its provincial regulator conduct a review of the fifth race on the track's July 20 card. Jockey Sheldon Chickeness, aboard King Witt (Five Demon Bag), turned for home some five lengths in front in the maiden-claiming event before appearing to pull his mount up. Once passed by the majority of the field, King Witt re-rallied to ultimately finish second.

“The unusual nature of the stretch drive from race five last night has caused us to reach out and make this request,” the club's CEO Darren Dunn said in a press release Thursday. “When I watched the race in real time, my first reaction was that the jockey was pulling the horse up due to a potential injury. When the jockey re-engaged the horse after the balance of the field caught up and then began to aggressively ride the horse to the finish line, the sudden change was very concerning.

“Though in our opinion there would not have been any adjustment to the ultimate order of finish in the race, due to a lack of any interference with any other horses, the fact that there was no inquiry posted by the stewards created great concern with the public from a perception standpoint. As such, we felt we needed to act and make this formal request.

“To be clear, we have full confidence in our regulator and stewards and value the significant experience they bring to our industry. We trust that they may already be reviewing this situation on their own. However, in light of what we saw last night as an operator and the significant feedback we have received, we felt an obligation on behalf of our customers and the ASD Live brand to crystallize our position of concern on this very important matter.

“While we can't instruct or direct our regulator on how to act on this matter, our request is for a formal review and the issuance of a statement on their findings that we can share with the public.”

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