Hastings Racecourse wants to share the fun
Have you always wanted to greet your racehorse in the winner’s circle — but were afraid to burden yourself with the costly expense?
Vancouver’s Hastings Racecourse has a novel pitch for all those wouldbe racers. Yes, for just $250 you can sign up for Hastings Racing Club 2015 — and own one of 200 shares in two racehorses.
Your investment entitles you to join your racers in the paddock, visit the back barns and share in the glory if your mount brings homes the roses.
Club members will also be entitled to purse winnings, net of such training and other costs involved in maintaining the horses that aren’t covered by the membership fees.
“People are coming up to me who have always wanted to own a horse,” said the track’s Christine Hong, who had already signed up 10 partners by 3 p.m. on Monday, the first day the innovative scheme was offered. “This is a really good way — low cost, and no risk.”
Hong spent her time trackside fielding questions — in both English and Chinese — and made quite an impression with some would-be investors.
“It sounds like an easy way to buy into a racehorse,” said Mary Critchley of Burnaby. “We’re already in another syndicate (horse partnership). It’s a great way to participate just a little bit.”
Trained by Steve Hanson, the two racehorses hopefully will make it to the winner’s circle — with potentially up to 200 owners coming along for the ride.
“We can do that,” assured Hong. “We would just have all the winners right on the track.”
General manager Darren MacDonald said the new program is just another way of getting patrons involved in the day-to-day racing excitement.
“It’s something that’s going to appeal to the average person, to get right in the game,” said MacDonald, liking what he was seeing on a sunny holiday Monday with a large crowd and stakes races.
Hong was even pitching a stake in a horse as a perfect Father’s Day surprise. “Lots of people are deciding what to buy for daddy,” she said. “This is a great idea.”
And so would- be owners approached the Hastings Racing Club table — placed tantalizingly close to the winner’s circle — Monday with visions of lucrative stretch runs dancing in their heads.
“They get to go to the paddocks, they get an escorted trip to the back barns and if they’re lucky they get to be in the winner’s circle,” said Hong.
If the idea of wagering a little bit to own a piece of a horse appeals to you simply email rayates@shaw.ca for more details.