Places, Everybody!
Places, Everybody!
It's finally here. Opening Day at Hastings is now just a matter of a few days away as the last-minute hustle to ready the track, the horses and the humans continues in earnest
by Greg Douglas — Dr Sport
WHEN the Hastings Racecourse gate crew signals the official start of the 2024 Thoroughbred racing season Saturday, April 27 at 2:30 pm, another milestone will have been reached in British Columbia’s sports history.
It will mark the 135th anniversary of racing in Vancouver dating back to when a horse named Mayflower won the $250 City Stakes on a makeshift Howe Street running surface in the downtown area.
The 2024 Live Racing Calendar over the next six months covers 45 race dates with a revised format consisting of 15 Friday Night cards beginning May 10 and running through the first week of September. Friday start times are 7 pm.
The schedule includes 21 Saturday afternoons, six Sunday afternoon matinees, two holiday Monday afternoons (Canada Day July 1; BC Day August 5) and one Monday night start during the PNE Fair on August 26.
This year’s $1.7 million Stakes schedule launches June 8 with the $50,000 George Royal and $50,000 Emerald Downs. There are 28 stakes races in total, highlighted by the 77th running of the $125,000 BC Derby and $75,000 BC Oaks on Saturday, September 14.
It cannot go unmentioned that in today’s difficult economic times there is no admission to Hastings Racecourse on race days with giveaways, food outlets, live entertainment, exotic car displays and a new barbecue pit on the tarmac all part of the package.
Another key attraction being introduced this year: Friday nights and Saturday afternoons from May 17 through August 25 featuring an onsite Community Market in support of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. It is hardly surprising Hastings Racecourse has been referred to as ‘the hub of spectator entertainment’ in Greater Vancouver social media outlets.
It all starts with opening day April 27 and the ‘Mystery Wallet at The Track’ promotion where fans can pick up (while supplies last) a complimentary BC Racebook wallet containing up to a $100 wagering voucher.
Let the party begin… .
Pre-Season Training
Henson’s Secret Snacks!
TRAINER Steve Henson has denied rumours that he’s about to go into retail, but the HBPA Vice President has confirmed that snacks are now available for purchase by all! Steve has kindly converted part of his barn’s laundry room and installed a cold cabinet to keep the drinks nice and cold. It can’t replace the now condemned cook shack but, Steve says, it will help out a little if backstretchers need to fill a hole or quench their thirst. Snacks are available during morning break but please pop by and speak to Steve before you raid the laundry room!
Don’t Forget!
OFFICIAL photographs of this year’s Award winners taken by Willow Penno will remain on sale for a couple of weeks only, so please don’t forget to contact Willow if you wold like to reserve a print. Net proceeds from the sale of the Official Awards’ Night prints is being generously donated to New Stride Thoroughbred Adoption Society. Payment is by voluntary donation, with a minimum donation set at a more-than-reasonable $35 for each print. If you’d like to purchase one of Willow’s “Official” photos as a memento of another marvellous Awards’ Night, please email her directly on kr1stal1st@icloud.com
Prints will remain on sale for only a week or too longer, so please get your orders in as soon as possible.
Free Betting Vouchers!
Broodmare for Sale
LITTLE BLACK DRESS (Lent), formerly a third-place finisher in the “Black Type” CTHS Sales Stakes and now a young broodmare with a foal by POP ARTIST at foot, is for sale.
Bred here in BC by Sandra Loseth, Little Black Dress is a CTHS Yearling Sale graduate who broke her maiden at the first time of asking before going on to hit the board at Stakes level.
Out of the former Champion BC Juvenile filly FINALITY’S CHARMER, Little Black Dress’s full-brother THREE DAY BENDER broke his maiden at Hastings last season, while an unraced three-year-old full-sister is currently in work at Hastings ahead of the 2024 season.
Interested parties can contact Pocket Aces Racing Stable on 604-374-4896
Bloodhorse Daily Headlines — Wednesday, April 23
National Museum of Racing announces 2024 Hall of Fame class
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Nine new members have been elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. The class of 2024 is comprised of jockey Joel Rosario and racehorses Gun Runner (KY) and Justify (KY) in the contemporary category; jockey Abe Hawkins and racehorses Aristides (KY) and Lecomte (KY) have been selected by the Pre-1900 Historic Review Committee; and Harry F. Guggenheim, Clement L. Hirsch, and Joe Hirsch were chosen by the Pillars of the Turf Committee. Rosario, Gun Runner, and Justify were all elected in their first year of eligibility.
The 2024 Hall of Fame class will be enshrined on Friday, Aug. 2, at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion in Saratoga Springs at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony will be broadcast live on the Museum website at www.racingmuseum.org. The event is open to the public and free to attend.
The full article can be seen by clicking the button below
New Stride News
