Hastings Racecourse looks for ways to keep horse racing alive in Vancouver

Horse racing representatives say they have some productive ideas for saving next year’s thoroughbred racing season, along with thousands of jobs connected to the industry, after a series of blows in recent weeks.

On Dec. 5, Hastings Racecourse and Casino announced that it was ceasing thoroughbred horse racing at the facility in east Vancouver, effective immediately.

The announcement came on the heels of the province’s November decision to terminate the slot-machine revenue stream that helped support operations.

On Dec. 11, Mayor Ken Sim and the Vancouver Whitecaps announced an agreement to explore developing the team’s new permanent home at Hastings Park as well as a new entertainment district.

Although the lease at Hastings Park was held by Great Canadian Casinos, the land is owned by the city.

Gary Johnson, president of Horse Racing B.C., on Sunday said he and other representatives have reached out to the city to ask for a meeting to explore options to keeping horse racing alive while negotiations between the Whitecaps FC and the city unfold.

That could include a shortened season in 2026, and an ongoing lease option with a clawback clause that would allow the city to end the lease if and when new development plans are finalized.

Even without slot machine revenue, they can continue to operate if given the opportunity, said Johnson.

“It makes no sense to have that land sit vacant while they enter negotiations that could take years,” said Johnson. “We would like to run a race meet this year, whatever length the city will allow.”

Racing isn’t just about who wins and loses, said Johnson.

“The city is in a position to save jobs: the people that work at the track, frontside, grandstand, backstretch, the hot walkers, grooms, trainers, jockeys, veterinarians, the farms and suppliers of hay and feed.”

Horse racing at Hastings is also about a community, jobs and housing, said Johnson. At least 50 people live in quarters in the barns alongside the horses from about February through August.

David Milburn, president of the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Society of B.C., said industry members have known for a long time that “things were changing,” and were doing long-term planning to adapt, and beginning to look for alternatives to Hastings Park. What they didn’t expect was to have their options cut off so suddenly.

“There is an overall big-picture plan that we’ve been working on for years, which included breeding, and different ways to make horse racing accessible to the younger generation,” said Milburn. “We know our current bettors are getting older. We felt we had a good shot being able to do it and rebuild this industry, but it would take time.”

“On Dec. 3, it all came tumbling down.”

Milburn said the horse racing community doesn’t want to get in the way of FIFA, or the city’s future land-use planning for Hastings Park. They do want to find a way to save their season next year, save jobs and help the industry adapt as they find new options for horse racing in the province.

It’s not something that can be done overnight.

“We can’t just drop everything. We need to find an off-ramp,” said Milburn. “If we can work together, we can reach an agreement that allows trainers and horses the certainty they need to prepare for the 2026 season, while longer-term discussions continue.”

dryan@postmedia.com

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