What’s on at Hastings

In a metropolitan city where professional hockey, football, soccer and baseball teams dominate headlines and compete for the entertainment dollar, there was only one route for management at Hastings Racecourse to travel.

“We decided rather than fight them, we’d join them,” says Hastings General Manager Raj Mutti. “Our mandate a year ago was to become more involved in the community and at the same time support our fellow sports franchises in Vancouver.”

As a result, it became common practice for the horse racing fraternity from both Hastings and Fraser Downs to be visible at local fundraising functions and special events. In time, the other sports organizations embraced the Hastings and Fraser representatives to the point today where co-promotions are part of the regular Vancouver sporting landscape.

This past summer the Vancouver Canadians baseball club staged a ‘Hastings Racecourse Day’ at Nat Bailey Stadium and in return Hastings Racecourse hosted a Canadians’ Home Run Derby at the track. Each Friday, when the B.C. Lions play a home CFL game, two fans from Hastings win a trip by limousine to B.C. Place Stadium with an invitation to participate in the pre-game ceremonies at field level. At a weekend break in their schedule each September, the football team is invited to a ‘Lions Day at the Races’ where coaches, trainers and players engage in a huge family barbecue.

Hockey and soccer players are regular guest decorators at Hastings and this past summer that practice has spilled into the entertainment segment with local television and radio personalities making guest appearances in the winner’s circle.

“It has resulted in considerably larger crowds for us,” Mutti says. “Our fans look forward to being entertained and this past season we’ve noticed a much younger demographic. There’s no doubt that being noticed in the community and sharing promotions with the pro sports teams has resulted in larger attendance figures at Hastings.”

Because there isn’t an admission charge, Mutti bases his estimate on food and beverage sales as well as wagering activity at the mutuels. He’s obviously pleased on both fronts.

Through the months of September, October and briefly in November, there are several major stakes races on the Hastings schedule, including the $250,000 BC Derby on Sunday, September 21st. “In the past we’ve drawn crowds of close to 8,000 to 9,000 for the Derby,” Mutti says. “But I wouldn’t hesitate to suggest we go into five figures this year. It’s almost like it has become ‘cool’ again to enjoy a day at the races. The real stars of our show are the horses and jockeys and we’re fortunate enough to have first-class product in both categories.”

The month of September kicks off with the $50,000 SW Randall Plate on Labour Day (September 1st) and the day before the BC Derby (September 20th) the $125,000 BC Oaks takes place. In October there are six stakes with purses of $100,000 or more: the Sadie Diamond on October 4th; Jack Diamond on October 5th; the Ballerina on October 11th; Premiers on October 12th; Fantasy on October 25th and Ascot Graduation on October 26th.

The season winds down on the weekend of November 1st and 2nd with back-to-back features: the Pacific Customs Brokers Marathon and the Jack Short Adios Amigos Allowance.

Stakes purses this year have increased to almost $3-million with overall purses targeted to hit $12-million-plus over the 71-day race card.

What’s on at Fraser Downs

Prior to announcing the 2008-2009 schedule for Fraser Downs Racetrack, General Manager Scott Sinclair took his staff aside and congratulated them for a job well done in 2007-2008.

“The challenge is out there,” he said. “We’ve got momentum on our side so let’s keep it going.”

Sinclair’s inspirational words came on the heels of one of the most successful seasons ever at the busy standardbred facility in Surrey, B.C.

“We experienced some dramatic, across-the-board purse increases this past season,” he said. “Our purse structure is as competitive as anywhere in Canada outside the Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG).”

Purses rose from $6.8-million to $8.8 million over the 103-day Fraser meet with the total live wagering reaching $20.6-million. Sinclair points to the B.C. Standardbred Association being successful in negotiating an eight-year deal with the thoroughbred sector for teletheatre, phone and internet wagering in British Columbia as a major accomplishment. “We have several areas that increased and improved,” the GM says. “The introduction of several new wagers and unlimited access to the track was very popular with our clientele. Also, the introduction of table games makes Fraser Downs the first full-blown racetrack and casino in Canada.”

The harness racing excitement at Fraser Downs spilled over to Vancouver Island for three consecutive Saturday afternoon cards in July at Sandown Park in Sidney, B.C. David Aldred, executive director for the BCSA and BCSBS was thrilled with the response at Sandown, as was track manager Chris Adamson.

The 2008-2009 standardbred season at Fraser Downs will cover 106 dates with opening night set for Friday, November 19th. The busiest months will be October ‘08 and January ‘09 with 14 racing dates on each month’s calendar. The season draws to a close on June 27th, 2009.

Dianne Pennington at the B.C. Standardbred Society wants to remind horsemen that the 2008 Annual Pacific Yearling Sale is set for October 5th at the Agriplex Complex in Cloverdale, B.C.