Located on 70 acres of land in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, Hastings Racecourse is a horse racing track that has been in operation since 1889. The course features both thoroughbred and quarter horse racing events throughout the year, with the main season typically running from September to October.
History
Hastings Park was originally built as an amusement park in 1892 by James Alexander “Jimmy” Pattison’s grandfather, Archibald McTavish, who later became a prominent figure in Vancouver’s history. The original park featured various attractions such as rollercoasters, a funhouse, and even an ostrich farm.
However, when World War II https://casinohastings.ca/ arrived, the park was transformed into a military camp to accommodate soldiers arriving from overseas. Following the war, Hastings Park reopened with new amusements but continued to face financial difficulties until it finally closed its doors in 1970.
After various attempts at revitalizing and redeveloping the site, Hastings Park began hosting horse racing events again in 1948 under a long-term lease with the British Columbia Jockey Club. The initial track was situated near the old amusement park site but later moved to its current location on a smaller parcel of land within Hastings Park.
Track Overview
The present-day Hastings Racecourse is designed as an oval-shaped facility, measuring one mile in circumference. Its configuration includes two chutes for starting and finishing races: a 6-furlong chute at the start and a similar-sized chute near the finish line. The track’s surface consists of a synthetic dirt course.
In addition to thoroughbred racing events held here during its primary operating season from September through October, quarter horse racing is featured throughout other parts of the year with different meeting configurations.
Racing programs may consist of multiple stakes, claiming races and maiden contests among others which cater towards both professional riders as well as amateur enthusiasts seeking more leisurely paced experiences.
