Assiniboia Downs announces a temporary change to its racing schedule for the remainder of the meet due to proactive measures taken in response to a recent equine health concern.
Starting the week of July 15, racing will shift to a two-day Monday-Tuesday schedule until August 12, after which the regular three-day Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday schedule will resume.
Following the identification and immediate containment of a single case of an equine virus, the barns at Assiniboia Downs have been placed under quarantine to prevent any further spread. While this quarantine allows horses to continue racing, it restricts any new horses from entering or leaving the barn area. This limitation will eventually strain the horse supply, prompting the decision to adjust the racing schedule to ensure that horses receive adequate rest between starts during this period and that the average field size remains at the highest level for wagering.
Darren Dunn, CEO of Assiniboia Downs, stated: “It is very unfortunate to have this happen but we are very pleased it was addressed right away. We realize that it is still an ongoing issue with the quarantine but we are confident that there will not be any further cases after the entire horse population was freshly tested and all returned with negative results, indicating no additional cases. A second and final test of all horses in late July will lift the quarantine should the results remain negative. Regardless of how disruptive this is, the health and welfare of our equine athletes must come first. We appreciate the support and cooperation of our horse people and fans as we navigate through this.”
Despite the initial dip in average field sizes following the quarantine, Assiniboia Downs has seen a strong recovery and is committed to making further adjustments to relieve pressure on the horses and sustain healthy field sizes.
The track has experienced a 7.7% increase in wagering this year, with an impressive 14% gain when excluding the quarantine’s first week.
The ASD Jackpot Pick 5 is now at $279,062 and growing. The Downs is also offering a $50,000 guaranteed Pick 4 and recently introduced Rolling Doubles which have proven very popular.
To maintain the integrity of the racing calendar, the dates removed from the current schedule will be added to the end of the season, with the final day of racing now set for September 24, ensuring a total of 50 race dates throughout the season.
For more information on the racing schedule and handicapping tools, please visit the new ASDowns.com.
2024 Western Canadian Derby Series Revised
The Western Canadian Derby Series, previously involving the $125,000 Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia Downs, the $200,000 Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Century Mile racetrack in Edmonton, and the $125,000 Grade 3 B.C. Derby at Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver has been revised to now remove the Manitoba Derby for the 2024 race season due to the continued federal quarantine of the backstretch barn area of Assiniboia Downs.
A mid-June discovery of equine infectious anemia (EIA) that infected one horse at Assiniboia Downs triggered the quarantine by the Canadian Food & Inspection Agency (CFIA). Though every horse in the barn area subsequently tested negative, a 45 day quarantine of the area was imposed and will continue until the entire equine inventory is tested again. A continued negative result will ultimately lift the quarantine.
“The second and final coggins testing is currently scheduled for Monday, July 29 with results proposed to be released on Friday, August 2. Entry date for the $125,000 Manitoba Derby is Thursday, August 1. As there is not certainty to the results, date of release of that information, and the lifting of the current quarantine, it is only responsible to remove our race from the series this year and adjust the bonus opportunities said Assiniboia Downs CEO Darren Dunn regretfully. We are still hopeful that entries for the Manitoba Derby will be strong, but we have to acknowledge that in the unlikely scenario of another horse testing positive for EIA or any delay in the removal of the quarantine, that access to the backstretch for horses not already on the property will be denied.”
The removal of the Manitoba Derby will now see the series reduced to the Canadian and B.C. Derbies and as such the previous $100,000 three leg sweep opportunity has also been discontinued. However, of important note, the $25,000 Owner/Trainer Point System Bonus will remain in place.
“Though we are understandably disappointed by the unfortunate absence of the Manitoba Derby and how it has affected our series, all parties agreed that it was important to still recognize and reward the valued owners and trainers who will compete in the remaining two races with the participation and results-based bonus system that was initially offered,” said Allen Goodsell, Racing Manager, Century Casinos.
This press release has not been edited by BloodHorse. If there are any questions please contact the organization that produced the release.
