Tannis Lopuck, former goaltender for the University of Manitoba Bison’s ladies ice-hockey team, is among four top horseplayers from Assiniboia Downs who will be competing for $1 million in prize money Thursday to Saturday, Jan. 24-26, at a tournament in Las Vegas. She and the other players qualified to play in the annual tournament, Coast Casinos $1 Million Horseplayer World Series, by winning monthly tournaments at Assiniboia Downs last summer. The other three are:
• Dan Black, who operates Black’s Vintage Books and Antiques on Portage Avenue in Winnipeg.
• John Bitchok, former school teacher living in Ile des Chenes, Manitoba.
• Kathleen Buckoski, school teacher. Her husband, Grant, is also a school teacher and a partner in Hardball Stables at Assiniboia Downs.
Lopuck played for the Bison’s from 2002-2005 and was named Academic All-Canadian for being an “A” student as well. She now works as a market analyst for Manitoba Hydro.
By winning the Downs’ tournament, each of the four earned a free trip for two to Las Vegas, $300 spending money and free entry into the richest tournament of the year at the Orleans Hotel-Casino. They will be pitting their horse-picking skills against approximately 700 others who qualified in similar contests at race tracks all over North America. Top prize is expected to be $360,000. Each participant will make imaginary $2 win/place bets on horses from various U.S. race tracks. The person who chalks up the biggest imaginary bankroll over the three days wins the grand prize.
Winnipeg has the enviable reputation of being among a small number of cities that have seen their qualifiers go on to win the big prize. About 27 years ago, a player from Assiniboia Downs won $100,000 at the biggest tournament at that time held at Penn National race track in Pennsylvania.
Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, Assiniboia Downs will continue to sponsor Las Vegas-qualifying tournaments throughout the live racing season which begins Friday, May 2, the day before the Kentucky Derby. At present, the Downs features simulcast racing from the top tracks in North America. Saturday is Sunshine Millions day when the best-bred horses from Florida compete against the best-bred horses from California.
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