British Columbia Derby has purse reduced while six stakes get purse increases
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Derby on Sept. 10 is the highlight of the 2016 Hastings meet. The 53-day meet begins April 17 with the $35,000 Sir Winston Churchill for 3-year-olds and up and the $35,000 Brighouse Belles for fillies and mares. There are 40 stakes totaling $2.57 million scheduled for the meet, which concludes Oct. 16.
When the 3-year-old filly Academic won the B.C. Derby last year, the purse was $250,000. It now drops back to the value it was in 2014. The 1 1/8-mile Derby will be supported by five stakes, including the $100,000 British Columbia Oaks.
B.C. Cup Day is scheduled for Aug. 1. Last year, the $1,329,986 wagered on the nine-race card was the highest of the meet. Headlining the six stakes is the $75,000 Pacific Customs Brokers Classic. The Classic, Pacific Customs Brokers Distaff, Nursery, and Debutante are open to horses bred or owned in British Columbia. The Stellar’s Jay for 3-year-olds and the Dogwood for 3-year-old fillies are the only races that stick to the original format of being restricted to B.C.-breds.
Beginning June 4 with the John Longden 6000 for 3-year-olds and up and the Strawberry Morn for fillies and mares, six stakes for older horses had their purses increased by $25,000 to $75,000. The Lieutenant Governors and Monashee on July 1 and the S.W. Randall Plate and Delta Colleen on Derby Day are the other races that had their purses boosted.
The Grade 3, $100,000 Premiers and Grade 3, $100,000 Ballerina will share top billing Oct. 1.
The $100,000 Jack Diamond Futurity and $100,000 Sadie Diamond Futurity are scheduled for Sept. 21. They are the richest races for 2-year-olds in Canada west of Ontario. Both races are restricted to horses foaled in Canada.
Closing out the meet are the B.C.-bred-restricted $50,000 B.C. Cup Classic and $50,000 B.C. Cup Distaff.
2016 Hastings stakes schedule
| DATE | RACE | CONDITIONS | DISTANCE | PURSE |
| Sun., Apr. 17 | Sir Winston Churchill | 3YO & UP Open | 6 1/2F | $35,000 |
| Sun., Apr. 17 | Brighouse Belles | 3YO & UP F&M | 6 1/2F | $35,000 |
| Sat., May 7 | George Royal | 3YO & UP Open | 6 1/2F | $50,000 |
| Sat., May 7 | Vancouver Sun | 3YO & UP F&M | 6 1/2F | $50,000 |
| Sun., May 8 | Jim Coleman Province | 3YO Open | 6 1/2F | $50,000 |
| Sun., May 8 | Ross McLeod | 3YO Fillies | 6 1/2F | $50,000 |
| Sat., June 4 | John Longden 6000 | 3YO & UP Open | 6 1/2F | $75,000 |
| Sat., June 4 | Strawberry Morn | 3YO & UP | 6 1/2F | $75,000 |
| Sun., June 5 | River Rock Casino | 3YO Open | 6 1/2F | $50,000 |
| Sun., June 5 | Emerald Downs | 3YO Fillies | 6 1/2F | $50,000 |
| Fri., July 1 | Lieutenant Governors | 3YO & UP Open | 1 1/16M | $75,000 |
| Fri., July 1 | Supernaturel | 3YO Fillies | 1 1/16M | $75,000 |
| Fri., July 1 | Monashee | 3YO & UP F&M | 1 1/16M | $75,000 |
| Fri., July 1 | Chris Loseth | 3YO Open | 1 1/16M | $50,000 |
| Mon., Aug. 1 | B.C. Cup Debutante | 2YO Fillies*** | 6 1/2F | $50,000 |
| Mon., Aug. 1 | B.C. Cup Nursery | 2YO C&G*** | 6 1/2F | $50,000 |
| Mon., Aug. 1 | B.C. Cup Dogwood | 3YO Fillies* | 6 1/2F | $50,000 |
| Mon., Aug. 1 | B.C. Cup Stellar's Jay | 3YO C&G* | 1 1/16M | $50,000 |
| Mon., Aug. 1 | Pacific Customs Broker Distaff | 3YO & UP F&M*** | 1 1/16M | $75,000 |
| Mon., Aug. 1 | Pacific Customs Brokers Classic | 3YO & UP Open*** | 1 1/16M | $75,000 |
| Mon., Aug. 22 | Richmond Derby Trial | 3YO Open | 1 1/16M | $50,000 |
| Mon., Aug. 22 | Hong Kong Jockey Club | 3YO Fillies | 1 1/16M | $50,000 |
| Fri., Aug. 26 | CTHS Sales Stakes | 2YO Fillies** | 6 1/2F | $50,000 |
| Fri., Aug. 26 | CTHS Sales Stakes | 2YO C&G** | 6 1/2F | $50,000 |
| Sat., Sept. 10 | British Columbia Derby (G3) | 3YO Open | 1 1/8M | $150,000 |
| Sat., Sept. 10 | British Columbia Oaks | 3YO Fillies | 1 1/8M | $100,000 |
| Sat., Sept. 10 | SW Randall Plate | 3YO & UP 1/8M | 1 1/8M | $75,000 |
| Sat., Sept. 10 | Delta Colleen | 3YO & UP F&M | 1 1/8M | $75,000 |
| Sat., Sept. 10 | Champions Starter Series Final | 3YO & UP Open | 6 1/2F | $50,000 |
| Sat., Sept. 10 | Champions Starter Series Final | 3YO & UP F&M | 6 1/2F | $50,000 |
| Sun., Sept. 18 | Sadie Diamond Futurity | 2YO Fillies** | 6 1/2F | $100,000 |
| Sun., Sept. 18 | Jack Diamond Futurity | 2YO C&G** | 6 1/2F | $100,000 |
| Sat., Oct. 1 | Ballerina (G3) | 3YO & UP F&M | 1 1/8M | $100,000 |
| Sat., Oct. 1 | Premiers (G3) | 3YO & UP Open | 1 3/8M | $100,000 |
| Mon., Oct. 10 | Fantasy | 2YO Fillies | 1 1/16M | $75,000 |
| Mon., Oct. 10 | Ascot Graduation | 2YO Open | 1 1/16M | $75,000 |
| Sun., Oct. 16 | B.C. Cup Classic | 3YO & UP Open | 1 1/8M | $50,000 |
| Sun., Oct. 16 | B.C. Cup Distaff | 3YO & UP Open | 1 3/8M | $50,000 |
*B.C.-breds
**Canadian-breds
***B.C.-bred or owned