Downs has Terrific Opening, Excitement Growing
Sometimes a big change can inject new enthusiasm into an old idea.
This season, CEO Darren Dunn and the Manitoba Jockey Club decided that in
an effort to tap new simulcast markets and, let’s be honest, just change things
up a bit, Assiniboia Downs would open the 2016 thoroughbred season with
a Sunday night live racing card. The opener could not have been better. “The
turnout and support for the return of the live racing season was exceptional,”
said Dunn enthusiastically. “It was so satisfying to see that response, especially in
trying something as new as opening on a Sunday night, which was not without
risk.” Granted, it was risky, but it was done for a reason. “The positioning of our
race program on Sunday night to capture new markets and build our existing
television signal sales was an overwhelming success,” Dunn added. “In simple
terms we actually doubled the total amount wagered from opening day last year.”
Jockey Richard Mairs aboard
first race winner Out of
Mischief on Opening Night
Lalama Invited to New York Giants Rookie Camp
D.J. Lalama
DJ Lalama, a St. Paul’s Collegiate grad and veteran of three seasons with the
University of Manitoba has had quite a month. First, the 6’1”, 230-pound linebacker
was invited to the National Football League’s New York Giants rookie mini-camp.
Lalama, 22, became the third Bison to be invited to a rookie camp in the past two
years. He follows current Saskatchewan Roughrider Nic Demski, who went to
Cleveland Browns rookie camp, and Evan Gill, who was invited to the Giants rookie
camp last year, but was unable to attend due to injury. To wrap up the month, after
he attended Giants rookie camp, he was selected in the Canadian Football League
draft – ninth-round, 70th overall, and dead last by the Edmonton Eskimos.
Four Bisons Taken in May 10 CFL Draft
Alex Vitt by Jeff Miller
Four Manitoba Bison student-athletes are on their way to CFL training
camps after the May entry draft. Defensive lineman David Onyemata
(above), offensive lineman Alex McKay was chosen 52nd overall by
Saskatchewan, slotback Alex Vitt was taken 55th overall by the Winnipeg
Blue Bombers and linebacker DJ Lalama (above) was the final pick by the
Edmonton Eskimos. The Bombers new receiver, Alex Vitt, a former St. Vital
Mustangs and Winnipeg Rifles player, had 61 receptions for 1,254 receiving
yards while adding nine receiving TDs during his Bisons career in the
Canada West Conference.
Manitoba’s Men and Women win Bronze Medals at NAHC
Top Goalie Allan Kohli with
former NHL coach, now Team
Ontario coach Ted Nolan
8 / sportslife
Two teams that were called “outstanding,” by observers and “gold medal-calibre” by their own
coaches, Team Manitoba’s male and female teams, overcame tough losses in the semi-finals to
win bronze medals at the 2016 National Aboriginal Hockey Championship in Mississauga, Ont. In
early May. The men beat Team Ontario 6-1 in the bronze medal final while the women beat Team
British Columbia 2-1 in an overtime thriller as both teams finished third. Renee Stevenson was
named Most Sportsmanlike Player for the Manitoba women while Nate Hooper won the same
award for the men. However, this year, Emily Middagh, the captain of the Balmoral Hall Blazers
Prep Team, and Allan Kohli, who plays for the Triple A City Midget Hawks, were the stars of the
tournament. Middagh was named Top Forward in the women’s tournament while Kohli was
named Top Goaltender in the men’s event.