Celebrating 60 seasons at the Downs

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/08/2017 (3253 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When the Assiniboia Downs horse track saw its first race in June 1958, it saw 6,500 racing fans turn out to the “spanking new and impressive” centre.

In a Winnipeg Free Press article printed on June 11, 1958, reporter John Ratcliffe recounted the “heartbreak, happiness and humour” that took place in its maiden racing season after construction was completed the previous September. He paints an image of tumultuous wins, disappointing loss and the vivid characters — the jockeys, trainers and fans — who attended that day.

Those essentials of horseracing — the betting, racing and interwoven community that characterizes the sport — haven’t changed much in 60 years. But the Assiniboia track has adapted and moved forward in almost every other way.

SUPPLIED PHOTO / The Downs is pictured under construction.

Today, even a Wednesday night sees the first few levels of the facility packed with families, couples and friends looking for an inexpensive way to enjoy the summer weather. Track historian Bob Gates says it’s one of the only places in Winnipeg where a night of entertainment could cost you nothing at all.

“I’ve been coming here since I was eight years old… with my mom and dad,” Gates said.

“Some people are music junkies. I can’t remember what I had for lunch yesterday, but when I would come out here in the early ’60s, the horses, the jockeys, the names, I don’t know why but… that’s what I knew. That’s what I liked.

“And the horses — have you ever met a horse up close and personal? They are absolutely gorgeous. They’re smart, and they’re just so impressive.”

ALANA TRACHENKO / Downs visitors scope out the horses that will be racing to help them place their bets.

Gates writes a blog for the Downs and has turned his passion for racing into a hobby, making him resident expert on the goings on of the track, past and present. For example, it wasn’t until the ’60s that female jockeys were allowed to race.

“It took a while before they got allowed on the track,” Gates said. “For those early pioneers, they weren’t wanted. Guys can be real pigs if they don’t want something. I can imagine how easy they didn’t make it.”

However since then, female jockeys have earned their place as some of the top winners at the Downs. The other differences have to do with the facility itself. For instance, parking spaces have been greatly reduced since races became televised and streamed online, making it easier to keep up with the show from home.

ALANA TRACHENKO / A horse is shown to the guests before heading to post.

“The safety of the track is the biggest difference,” Gates said. “It used to be silt and mud, and now it’s mostly sand. Sand is softer, more cushiony and safer for horses to run on.”

The attendees have changed as well, skewing to an older crowd but with plenty of young fans still coming out.

“You used to see more American license plates in the parking lot than Canadian,” Gates added. “There wasn’t a track in Minneapolis, and American customers used to be a huge business.”

ALANA TRACHENKO / The parade to post heads out onto the track.

Jockey life

Being a jockey is an exciting job — it means getting closer to the action than anyone else, but it’s not easy, or always safe. Jockeys must have the right physical attributes, and mentally, there is a lot of pressure from their clients to win.

Chris Husbands, 28, has been a jockey at the Downs for eight years. Originally from Barbados, Husbands first came to Winnipeg in 2007 and now lives close to the track, where he will sometimes race six or seven times per night. He’s been leading jockey twice, in 2014 and 2016.

“My dad always had me riding horses and I did like it, though I wanted to be a soccer player,” Husbands said. “I was around 10, 11 and he said you can be a jockey and I said I’ll try it. I got on my first horse and then never looked back.

SUPPLIED PHOTO / Queen Elizabeth visits the Downs in 1970 and presents the winner of the Manitoba Derby with a cup.

“I love everything about it. For me, there is no favourite part. Everything is exciting. Even from just the beginning when you see which horse you’re riding. Sometimes it’s scary, but never once did I get up and say I don’t want to do it.”

Husbands is known for inviting kids in the audience up into the winner’s circle for a photo and has a bit of a fan group. He says he has suffered several minor injuries while racing — it happens pretty regularly for the jockeys.

“I have had a lot of injuries. I don’t worry about that. If you think about it, it happens,” he said.

He said Winnipeg feels like home, more so than other Canadian cities he’s visited.

“Winnipeg is relaxed and everyone here is friendly and nice. When they say ‘Friendly Manitoba,’ it really does mean that.”

Gates said Husbands’ no-worry attitude is an important way to combat the stress that many jockeys feel. Between winning and the possibility of injury, jockeys are also expected to maintain a low weight to ensure speed on the track.

“It’s a tough life,” Gates said. “The guys at the bottom of the leader board, the ones who don’t ride a lot of winners, they’re not making a lot of money… it’s not an easy life.”

ALANA TRACHENKO / Chris Husbands, a jockey at the Downs for eight years, was named leading jockey in 2014 and 2016.

“It’s like any other sport. You’ve got substance abuse, alcoholism, and injuries… and they definitely have to be light, and you don’t want them too tall. They have to weigh for sure between 100 and 110, maybe tops 115 pounds.”

Gates said that a lot of jockeys will “sweat it off” in the sweatbox before riding, and some develop eating disorders to maintain their weight. Sometimes dehydration can lead to a precarious situation.

“If you get a bit unstable, well the last thing you want is a jockey who’s going to pass out who’s riding a horse that’s going 32 miles an hour. It’s a fine balance.”

Horses have to be fairly light as well; most weigh around 1,200 pounds. Most horses will run a few races per night, which can range in distance, usually maxing out at a derby distance of one mile and an eighth. They’re not exempt from injury either — broken legs are not uncommon, and it usually signals the end of a horse’s career.

ALANA TRACHENKO / A couple selects the horses they will be betting on between races.

Racing towards the future

Many of the staff, jockeys, trainers and fans who come to the Downs have been doing so for years, and they want to see the track thriving for years to come.

CEO Darren Dunn said racing is something that never loses its appeal to those who love it.

“It’s a sport that once it gets in your blood, it’s hard to leave,” Dunn said. “It’s unique… it’s a very different kind of sport and I suppose you combine that with the excitement and it’s something that’s challenging and rewarding at the same time.”

Dunn has worked in every role from track announcer to director of operations at the track for a total of 36 years; he’s been CEO for seven. In that time, he’s seen the gaming market grow in unprecedented ways.

“The competition in the gaming market has exploded,” he said. “When I first started here, from a gaming standpoint, horse racing was the only game in town. Nowadays it’s everything from casinos to VLTs to internet wagering to massive lottery products, so you have to work that much harder to leverage yourself.”

However, they still have something that most other betting games don’t.

“Mainly what separates us is we’re far more visual. Come out on-site, you can meet and greet if you will, meet the horses prior to, handicap them on paper, watch them warm up on the track, and then watch them thunder out of the gate. There’s a natural attraction to horses and always has been.”

ALANA TRACHENKO / The lines are long as visitors place their bets between races.

And for those who’ve worked on farms or with horses, or been to a concert at the Downs, the track will always be a source of nostalgia and at-home feeling.

“It holds a really pleasant memory in people’s minds and a place they’ve always had a great experience and continue to enjoy to this day. There’s a lot of loyalty to Assiniboia Downs.”

To cater to guests new and old, the Downs streams their races on MTS TV and on HPI, an online wagering platform that can be used on computers and phones. Parking, which used to be paid, is now free, and there’s no entrance fee.

As well, the Downs continues to host events as part of the larger Assiniboia community. The next night market takes place on Sept. 3, which will feature local vendors, food and drinks, as well as live entertainment. The Downs also offers buffets and fine dining, as well as spaces for weddings and large events.

“We put a focus on families on select afternoons throughout the season… that are geared towards family fun and we bring out free pony rides and bouncy castles,” Dunn added.

“I would say it’s a cultural icon in Manitoba, I think certainly for the folks who call Winnipeg and the surrounding area home.”