Wallet giveaway just one of many promotions at Hastings Park this season
There is money to be made at Hastings Racecourse on Saturday, and you don't even have to bet on a winner. To enhance the opening day of the 45-day meet, Hastings is giving away 500 wallets. Some will include betting vouchers ranging from $2 to $100 in them.
The wallet giveaway is just one of many promotions Hastings is planning for this season, which concludes Oct. 20.
There is also a major change in the traditional schedule. Sundays are being dropped during the early part of the season. For most of the schedule racing will be conducted on Fridays and Saturdays.
Sundays take the place of Fridays beginning Sept. 15. Post time for Saturdays, Sundays and holiday Mondays is 2:30 p.m. The partying on Friday begins at 7 p.m.
“We have a lot more things happening this year,” said Ryan McCartney, general manager at Hastings. “We're going to have something going on other than racing just about every race day.
“I'm very excited about Friday nights. We are hoping to bring in a younger crowd and more lively events. Maybe some parties and stags and stagettes, etc. Starting in June every Friday we are having live entertainment in the Eclipse Lounge, and on some Saturdays too.”
The popular dog races will be back with three events.
“We have two days of wiener dogs and one with Corgis,” said McCartney. “They always attract huge crowds.”
Hastings is partnering with the Greater Vancouver Food Bank in operating a community market.
“It will be in the indoor area of the grandstand next to the Diamond Club,” said McCartney. “It starts mid to late May. The food bank will also be handling the 50-50 draws so they are really going to benefit from our partnership this year.”
Of course, the main reason to come to Hastings is to watch and wager on the horses. The highlight of the meet is the Grade 3, $125,000 B.C. Derby on Sept. 14. The 11/8-mile race for three-year-olds will be supported by the $75,000 B.C. Oaks, $100,000 Jack Diamond Futurity and the $100,000 Sadie Diamond Futurity.
The last two stakes at the meet, The Glen Todd Fantasy and Glen Todd Ascot, are Oct. 12. Last Wednesday, the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame announced Todd was voted in under the builder category. There will be a ceremony honouring this year's inductees on Aug. 6.
SATURDAY'S SELECTIONS
RACE 5: Lucky Force has been training like a demon, attracts last year's leading rider Amadeo Perez and is trained by Craig MacPherson who, according to Daily Racing Form's Formulator, has a 22 per cent strike rate and a $2.44 ROI with horses coming off a layoff of 180 days or more. Lucky Force also won his two-year-old debut, his initial start as a three-year-old and has speed to take advantage of his inside post. Plus, the only time the speedy fouryear-old raced over a wet track he won the $48,000 Ross McLeod last year.
RACE 6: Valuable Cowboy has been impressive in the mornings, runs well fresh, has good speed and could be gone if he breaks on top with Antonio Reyes riding for trainer Brian (Spud) O'Connell.
Let the games begin.
Randy Goulding has been handicapping horses and writing for The Racing Form at Hastings Park for more than 30 years. His column will run every Friday throughout the racing season.