The Downs is bursting with news

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/07/2015 (3910 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Goodness. Away just two weeks and the local racing scene goes all crazy, both in a positive and negative way.

The unfortunate side, you likely have heard, is that jockey Alyssa Selman is in rehabilitation, determined to walk again after she suffered a spinal cord injury when she fell from her horse when it clipped heels in front of the grandstand. Tracks from around North America are offering support, which you can too with a contribution at: the Assiniboia Downs, TD Canada Trust, Assiniboine Credit Union, Access Credit Union or online at GoFundMe.com

Showing how positive she is, Alyssa has commented that it could have been worse, that she could have suffered a brain injury — and she’s determined to get on a horse again.

On the positive side, another female jockey, Kayla Pizarro, 24, made ASD history when she won her very first lifetime start on a 19/1 longshot even though she wasn’t able to carry a whip, which only is allowed after a new jockey has had a few starts. The last time that happened anywhere in North America was in Florida in the 1990s, a racing veteran recalls. A knack for riding appears to be in Kayla’s genes. Her brother, Tyler Pizarro is riding in the big leagues of Woodbine and her father, Jorge Pizarro, had ridden for 18 years at Fort Erie and Assiniboia Downs before ending his career in 1998. Kayla is certainly one to watch.

A lucky break for another jockey, Rasheed Hughes, 18, finally brought an end to a vexing 55-race losing streak. Top percentage rider Adolfo Morales decided at the starting gate he didn’t want to ride a horse by the name of City Slewtions despite a vet’s clearance of the horse to race (jockeys can do that). So Rasheed jumped on and promptly posted a three-length victory, thank you very much. It was his first victory since arriving in Winnipeg from Barbados.

Now everyone’s talking about the first-ever Festival of Racing weekend at the Downs from Aug. 1 to 3. The track is partnering with Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries to present a special Sunday night card of racing at 7 p.m. followed by a free concert by Alberta country recording stars High Valley and the storied Manitoba Derby the following day. Rich stakes races will be showcased each day of the festival: On Saturday, the babies go at it in a 5/8-mile sprint stakes, older horses stretch out on Sunday in a mile stakes, then the top three-year-olds face off in the $75,000 Manitoba Derby and the Manitoba Oaks (for fillies) on Derby Day Monday.

What better time for you to hit the Downs if you’ve been putting it off. And remember this: you can get a leg up on others at the track and be ready to win simply by watching a three-minute video titled “The Secret to Winning” at ASDowns.com

The CEO of the Downs, Darren Dunn, tells how it’s “dunn.” Uh, done. So how can you go wrong?