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