Trainer JARED BROWN had his best season ever at Assiniboia Downs with regards to purse earnings in 2025, and he’s assembled another powerful stable for 2026, but he also knows it will be tough to improve on last year.
Brown compiled a record of 25-23-19 from 129 starts in 2025, and his horses earned $424,028, winning numerous stakes with horses like Welcometohollywood, Omaha Warrior, and Wecanonlyimagine, who will lead the stable into battle again this year.
Welcometohollywood won the Jack Hardy Stakes and Manitoba Oaks at Assiniboia Downs, as well as the Century Casino Oaks at Century Mile for Brown and ownership partner John Ganas in 2025, while Omaha Warrior won the Graduation Stakes and Winnipeg Futurity for owners Gary Danelson and Bonnie McCrory. Wecanonlyimagine won the Debutante Stakes at Assiniboia Downs and the Princess Margaret Stakes at Century Mile for Brown and Ganas.
Brown is heading into 2026 with a strong stable of 24 horses, including 10 two-year-olds. He made another trip to the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Yearling Sale last October, returning with five horses, including a filly by Omaha Beach he named after Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jackson Smith-Njigba, currently the highest-paid receiver in the NFL. He also brought back a Yaupon filly, a Known Agenda filly, and a Bolt d’Oro colt. Five local babies round out the team of youngsters for this year.
The three returning stars, Welcometohollywood, Wecanonlyimagine, and Omaha Warrior, give the barn a formidable foundation. Warrior spent the winter at the late Jack Robertson’s farm and was expected to arrive at the barn later in the week. Welcometohollywood and Wecanonlyimagine are already in training here.
A major reason for Brown’s success are his grooms, which include assistant trainer Susan Crane and Dodie Chmilowsky. Also expected to return this year is former HBPA Groom School graduate Hannah Kraychuk. All have an unmatched love for their horses, and it shows when you walk through the barn.
For Crane, who has been grooming since 2001 and working for Brown for most of that time, the barn is more than a job, it’s a life. “I worked for Emile Corbel for three years,” said Susan, tracing her path to the Brown barn. “Then I worked for Wayne Elias, but he got down on horses, so then I started working for Jared, and I’ve been here ever since.”
What hit the barn harder than any bad racing luck this winter was the loss of Spencer, the barn cat who had ruled the shed row for 14 years. Spencer passed away on Christmas Day, and the barn held a small memorial this week. Owners came. Pizza was served. A sign went up.
A sign for Spencer.
“He found me when he was a baby, said Susan. “Someone dumped him off here. He stuck to me like glue, and I couldn’t shake him, so I kept him.”
Spencer was no ordinary barn cat. He crossed the border to Arizona without complaint, rode security golf carts on morning rounds, and came when he was called.
“He thought he was a dog,” said Susan. “He went everywhere with us. Every day he went to the barn. Every day he went in the truck for a ride.”
The loss is still fresh.
“Everybody knew Spencer, no matter what track you went to,” said Susan.
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