Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver to close after more than 130 years
Hastings Racecourse and Casino said it is ceasing thoroughbred horse racing effective immediately.
Last updated 1 day ago
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Horse racing at Hastings Park in east Vancouver — B.C.’s last operating horse track — will close after more than 130 years.
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In a statement, Hastings Racecourse and Casino said it is ceasing thoroughbred horse racing effective immediately.
“This was an extremely difficult decision, especially given the historical legacy of Hastings Racecourse in the local community and its importance to the province’s racing industry,” Wayne Odegard, regional vice-president for the Great Canadian Entertainment, said in a statement Friday.
He added that this was “strictly a business decision” based on the economic uncertainty to hold another season of horse racing.
However, the announcement comes just a week after the province dropped a bombshell that it was pulling slot machine revenue. Horse racing has been in decline for decades and has increasingly relied on a share of revenue from the trackside casino to support the sport.
Thoroughbred racing is usually conducted between April and October so there are no horses stabled at Hastings, the company said.
“Our focus moving forward will be supporting our impacted team members through this transition, as well as racing participants as they assess their options for thoroughbred racing in the province in the future,” said Odegard.
Hastings Racecourse and Casino has held thoroughbred racing since 1889. Great Canadian Entertainment has operated it since 2004 and leases the facility from the City of Vancouver.
Gary Johnson of Thoroughbred Racing B.C. told Postmedia that the previous announcement to pull slot machine revenue “came as an absolute shock” and “without any warning whatsoever.”
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Nina Krieger, minister of public safety and solicitor general, said the decision was made due to “significant concerns” with the financial sustainability of horse racing in B.C. following an economic impact assessment.
More to come…
With files from John Mackie and Stephanie Ip
