Trainers began filling the entry box for the first time this year on May 7 for the Tuesday, May 12 opening card at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg.
You can be sure five-time leading trainer Jerry Gourneau was active at the box with his 40-horse stable of fit runners. And he’s apparently got more horses on the way for perennial Downs leading owner Henry S. Witt. Jr.
Other top trainers expected at the entry box on Thursday included Jason Homer, Wendy Anderson, Tom Gardipy, Jr., Eugene Burns, and Steve Keplin, Jr.
Gourneau finished third in the standings last year with 30 victories, behind leading trainer Steve Keplin, Jr. (40 wins) and Mike Nault (32 wins), after arriving late. It appeared he might catch Keplin at one point, but it wasn’t to be, and this year could be very different.
Gourneau won the training title here four consecutive years from 2020-2023, and also won the title in 2018. Another championship this year would give him six, which would almost catch him up with his main owner, former car racing champion Witt, Jr, who has won the leading owner title at ASD an incredible seven consecutive seasons from 2019 through 2025.
During that run, Witt’s horses won over US$2.1 million in purses and numerous stakes, including the Manitoba Derby and the Gold Cup.
Last year’s leading trainer, Steve Keplin, Jr., will win a lot of races in his usual high percentage fashion in 2026, but he intentionally decided to stick with a smaller stable of horses this year. Smaller numbers don’t make it impossible to win the trainer title, but they do make it tougher.
Most of the top 10 jockeys from 2025 are back again for 2026, including 2025 leading rider Damario Bynoe and 2025 runner-up Antonio Whitehall, who will be seeking his fourth championship belt at ASD in 2026. Notably absent so far this year is Prayven Badrie, who finished fourth in the standings in 2025. Badrie is currently trying to break in at Woodbine. If that doesn’t work out, we’ll likely see him back here trying for a second local title.
Also seen in the kitchen on Thursday was all-time leading Assiniboia Downs trainer Gary Danelson and his longtime partner Bonnie McCrory. Now 88, Danelson retired from training horses last year, but owns talented 2025 Winnipeg Futurity and Graduation Stakes winner Omaha Warrior in partnership with McCrory. Jared Brown handles the training duties for Danelson now, and this team is no doubt hoping for another big year from their budding star.
First post for opening evening on Tuesday, May 12, is 7:30 p.m., and fans will want to make sure to enter the nightly 50/50 draw and the new $10,000 Lucky Longshot Contest. The popular $50,000 Guaranteed $1 Pick 4 is also back for this year, and is sure to attract bettors from around the world based on the huge pools it generated last year, some of which reached over $100,000. Who couldn’t use that?
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