Hastings Picks

Hastings Racecourse is one of three racetracks situated in Canada. It can be found in Vancouver and is nestled in the southern shore of the Burrard Inlet. 

It is overlooked by British Columbia’s iconic coastal mountain range. It is one of the most scenic sporting settings in Canada and is handily positioned, just 25 minutes from Vancouver InternationalAirport.

The track regularly hosts thoroughbred racing on the weekend throughout the summer months and occasionally hosts a bank holiday Monday card.

It has been operating since 1889, which makes it Vancouver’s longest continuously used sports venue. It was known as Exhibition Park Racetrack during the early years. In 2019, the track will be celebrating its 130th anniversary.

There is just a single track at Hastings with a five-furlong oval course (208 foot) hosting every single live race. There are currently no plans to install a turf course at the Vancouver venue.

There are also six-and-a-half furlong, 11/16-mile and 1 1/8-mile chutes, which allow a number of different length races to be staged at the track. The width of the track is 65 feet.

The track can accommodate up to 1,000 horses at any given time, with the venue catering for up to 6,500 spectators. The most popular day of the season is BC Cup Day, which takes place on August Bank Holiday. Racing tends to be staged from April to October at the track.

It is currently part of the Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, and hosts simulcast betting year-round. The track stages a number of key races each year, including the British Columbia Derby and British Columbia Oaks, both of which are major races in the 3-year-old calendar. The Northlands Distaff and the Ballerina Stakes are also held at Hastings.

Hastings Racetrack History

Although the official opening date is listed as 1889, racing did not officially begin at the track until 1892. It was opened by the British Columbia Jockey Club, which opted for a 60-acre spot in East Park, which is located in Hastings.

Originally, horses traveled from Vancouver and Victoria to compete at the track, although with better transport links, thoroughbreds were eventually able to travel from further afield.

The track’s popularity increased during the early part of the 20th century, with the nearby funfair helping attract families to the track. It attracted a well-to-do audience according to writers in the 1910s and 1920s.

The starting gate was introduced for the first time in 1939.

In the 1950s, the track was extended to measure five furlongs, which remains in place today. A decade later, the new grandstand was erected, which was able to hold up to 5,000 spectators. In the late 1960s, the course added lights, which enable night racing to take place atHastings.

Like most US and Canadian tracks, Hastings has had its fair share of financial problems over the years. Declining attendance hasn’t helped its cause over the last decade, though they’ve made a conscious effort to hold events that attract a younger audience to the track.

It was widely reported that the racetrack could close at the end of the 2012 season due to low profits; however, negotiations with the city were successful, and it was announced that the track would remain open for business for the foreseeable future.

Mexican-born jockey Mario Gutierrez attracted some much-needed publicity for the track back in 2012 when the Hastings resident won the Santa Anita Derby, Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes riding I’ll Have Another to success and being thrust into the racing spotlight as a result. He won the Kentucky Derby again in 2016 and has won numerous track titles at Hastings.

Hastings Configuration and Track Bias

There is no noticeable and permanent track bias at the Hastings Racecourse

Post Position Stats at theHastings Racecourse

There was a decent spread of winners atHastings across the 2019 season. The inside stall was the most productive, with18.8 percent of winners over the shorter trip. Sprint races also saw stalls two and three yield a return of 15.9 percent, while stall six also showed a decent return at 14.7 percent.

On the outside, none of the 11 runners who began the race in stall 11 were able to pass the post ahead of their rivals.Stall 10 saw three of its 17 runners triumph at the track, which is a return of17.6 percent.

In contests held over the longer trip, the outside stalls proved more effective. Stall seven produced an impressive 21.8percent of winners, while 16 percent of runners who were drawn in stall eight were also successful this year.

Only three runners began a race in stall 10, with one of the trio entering the winner’s enclosure. On the inside, stall one produced 18.8 percent of all winners over trips of at least a mile, while stall six showed the poorest return at just 9.6 percent.. 

Hastings Racing Season

The track stages racing two days a week from mid-April to mid-October. Conditions would likely be too wet to hold regular race-days throughout the winter months. Racing is held on Saturday and Sunday, although Bank Holiday Mondays are also held throughout the season.

There are a number of top races held at the track each year, with BC Derby commanding a purse of $250,000 while the BC Oaks offers $125,000 to the winner.

Grade III:

●     British Columbia Premiers

●     British Columbia Oaks

●     British Columbia Derby

●     Ballerina Stakes

●     Lieutenant Governors Stakes

Other notable races:

●     Sadie Diamond Futurity

●     Jack Diamond Futurity

Hastings Racecourse Address

188 N. Renfrew Street

Vancouver, BC V5K 3N8

Hastings Best Jockeys and Trainers

There are a number of top Canadian trainers who regularly race at Hastings. Although some of them venture to other tracks such as Fort Erie or Emerald Downs, the majority tend to stick to this particular track. Many of them regularly produce winners.

There are a number of jockeys who regularly ride at the track, and many of these Vancouverites produce winners on a weekly basis

Top Jockeys