Assiniboia Downs is gearing up for the much-anticipated Manitoba Derby on Monday, August 5. The feature is a 1 1/8 mile race with a purse of $125,000.
The excitement for the event is further fueled by the growing Jackpot Pick 5, which currently stands at $397,467. If there is no winner on Monday or Tuesday, the entire jackpot will roll over to the Manitoba Derby Card on August 5, where it will be distributed to the winners in a mandatory payout event. Additionally, the night will feature a $100,000 guaranteed Pick 4 pool.
Darren Dunn, CEO of Assiniboia Downs, shared his enthusiasm: “The Manitoba Derby program is shaping up to be another great event this year. The size of the Jackpot Pick 5 is one of the biggest in North America right now and still growing. It is amazing to think that someone still has a chance to take home close to a half million dollars themselves if they get it as a single winner on July 29th or 30th. Otherwise, the full jackpot will be a mandatory payout on the Derby card on August 5th. We’re looking forward to an incredible night of racing and wagering.”
The program will also feature the $50,000 Harvey Warner Manitoba Mile and the $50,000 Escape Clause Stakes as part of an eight race program that will also include free family fun activities for the kids to add to the daily free admission and parking.
Wagering on Assiniboia Downs has been up approximately 11% from last year’s remarkable results. This comes as the track has also been navigating through a single case of an equine virus, resulting in a quarantine of the barns. The track has temporarily adjusted its racing schedule to manage the situation, with the quarantine expected to be lifted on August 2, provided all tests continue to come back negative. The changes to the racing calendar have actually increased the average field sizes which has been very appealing to horseplayers.
“The health and welfare of our equine athletes is critical, and we have been diligent in our efforts to ensure their safety while also providing the best possible racing experience for our fans,” said Darren Dunn. “I’m incredibly thankful for the support from everyone to make the necessary accommodations quickly. The outcome, along with the significant growth in wagering levels, particularly in the past couple of weeks, has been fantastic.”
Racing continues at Assiniboia Downs on Mondays and Tuesdays through August 13, with the Wednesday night programs resuming on August 14. For more information, visit ASDowns.com.
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