 HASTINGS
RACECOURSE
 Hastings Park Racecourse is a 115 year old thoroughbred horse track in Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada. Boasting amazing mountain and waterfront racing
views, Hastings is one of North America’s most picturesque race tracks.
Each year, live thoroughbred racing is held from April through November.
Throughout its illustrious history, Hastings Racecourse has hosted prestigious
stakes events year after year. These include the British Columbia Derby, the
Sadie Diamond Futurity, Jack Diamond Futurity, Ballerina Breeders Cup and the
BC Breeders Cup Oaks.
Hastings Racecourse Track Facts
| Main
Track |
: |
Five
furlongs, 208 feet, oval |
| Distance
from last turn to finish line |
: |
513 feet |
Track Records
DIST
|
HORSE
|
AGE
|
WGT
|
TIME |
DATE
|
Abt 3-1/2 f
|
Turn To Knight
|
2
|
117
|
:41 |
May 27, 1990
|
3-1/2 f.
|
Smokin Finish
|
2
|
115
|
:35 |
Jul 2, 2000
|
Abt 6 f.
|
Count the Green
|
6
|
123
|
1:10 |
Apr 17, 1971
|
6-1/2 f.
|
Torque Converter
|
6
|
116
|
1:15 |
Jul 1, 1996
|
1 m, 70 y
|
Westbury Road
|
6
|
124
|
1:40 |
Jul 27, 1967
|
1-1/14 m
|
Coral Isle
|
5
|
119
|
1:42 |
Jul 28, 1973
|
1-1/8 m
|
Artic Son
|
5
|
117
|
1:46 |
Aug 3, 1998
|
Abt 1-1/2 m
|
Golden Gentry
|
5
|
114
|
2:29 |
Sep 23, 1987
|
1-1/2 m
|
Lucky Son
|
4
|
117
|
2:29 |
Aug 25, 1995
|
1-11/16 m
|
Glen Gower
|
4
|
114
|
2:51 |
Sep 9, 1987
|
History of Hastings Racecourse
- Prior to moving to the east side of the city of
Vancouver, horses raced downtown near a site at the corner of Howe and
Nelson Streets where the
old Hotel Vancouver was located.
- In the early 1890s, a few horsemen formed the
B.C. Jockey Club and started clearing land at the site of what was to
become the present day Hastings
Park Racecourse. The track, originally known as East Park, encompassed
15 acres and was 19 feet higher at one end than the other and the infield
was
cluttered
with charred stumps and large boulders.
Hastings Racecourse
Vancouver, British Columbia
- The Vancouver Exhibition held its first
fair on the adjoining land
in 1910 and horse racing was its opening event.
- In 1942, all racing from the
two other tracks in the Vancouver area, Brighouse and Lansdowne, were
transferred to Hastings racecourse due to wartime
gas rationing.
- In 1965, a new grandstand was put up and the racing surface
was renovated as the track realized increased mutuel handle. In 1968,
lights were installed
for night racing, and in 1976, the grandstand was further expanded.
- The B.C.
Jockey Club operated quite successfully until 1993, when the government
did not renew its lease. The New Democratic Party (NDP) government
introduced
a new racing act that created the Pacific Racing Association (PRA) to
operate Hastings Park racecourse.
- The PRA soon found itself in a cash crunch and racing
in the province was in a downward spiral. Woodbine Entertainment Group
subsequently took over
operations of Hastings Park Racecourse on April 30, 2002.
- In March 2004 Great
Canadian Casinos and Wall Financial Corporation, representing local ownership,
entered into an agreement to acquire Hastings
Entertainment Inc. and assumed control of operations on April 8, 2004.
|
