Hastings Racecourse - Vancouver, B.C. Canada
N 49° 17.102 W 123° 02.418
10U E 497069 N 5459143
A racing venue that has been in operation for over 100 years
Waymark Code: WM3TQ6
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 05/17/2008
Views: 130
Horse racing in Vancouver has roots going back to the 1880's when they would race down Howe Street. (in what is now the heart of the downtown area) People would sit in grandstands that were temporarily constructed in front of Hotel Vancouver.
In the 1890's a group of local horsemen formed the BC Jockey Club and soon began clearing 15 acres of land that would first be known as East Park. In 1910, the first Pacific National Exhibition was hosted on land beside the track and it was opened with a horse race.
The following years have seen the track both prosper and go in decline. In the late 1980's there was even talk of closing the track forever. But it remained open and in 2004 it was purchased by the Great Canadian Gaming Corporation. Since then there has been investment in the facilities with a number of improvements such as new food outlets, a slot facility, (much to the chagrin of local residents) better grandstands and more.
Live thoroughbred racing is held at Hasting Racecourse from April to November on Saturdays and Sundays as well as on Friday evenings from June to September. The live racing day typically begins at 1:25 pm with 8 to 10 races. Popular races run include the George Royal, Vancouver Sun, Burnaby Breeders' Cup, BC Cup, British Columbia Derby, Sadie Diamond Futurity and more.
Simulcasting is enjoyed through the entire year between 9:00 am and 11:00 pm. Racing fans can view prestigious races from tracks around the world, including Hong Kong.
Visit Instructions:To post a Visit for a waymark in this category, you will need to physically visit the track described in the waymark. If possible a photo of yourself at the track should be included in your log. Feel free to post some photos of the races you attended and of the fine animals you've seen. Did you have a photo taken with a Jockey?
You do not need to enter the track or attend an event to post a visit. However a photo of you outside the track with some racecourse signage is requested.
If you would like, share a story about your visit. Did you bet at the track? How much did you win? How much did you lose?