Hastings will again have potential for 55 Thoroughbred racing days in 2015

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – It isn’t official yet, but according to Michael Brown, the director of racing for the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch of British Columbia, the 2015 Thoroughbred season will begin at Hastings on April 25 and tentatively end Oct. 12.

Another four days will be added if the industry meets the budget requirement that will be set by the B.C. Horse Racing Industry Management Committee. The requirements were met this year, and when the current meet ends Oct. 26, there will have been 55 days completed. Assuming the same scenario, there will be the same number of days next year.

One of the supposed causes of the shortage of horses at Hastings was the uncertainty of there actually being a meet this year. Due to a dispute over funding between the groups representing the Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds, and Great Canadian Gaming Corp., the parent company of Hastings and the Standardbred track Fraser Downs, dates weren’t finalized until a few weeks before the live meet at Hastings began April 27.

Dave Milburn, president of the local Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, is hopeful that having the dates announced now will help owners and trainers commit to running at Hastings next year.

“There was a lot of uncertainty this year,” said Milburn. “Having the dates set this early should be helpful in keeping our horse population stable.”

Milburn also is optimistic that a subsidy for bottom-level horses who won’t race over the winter will help keep horses in the province.

Horses who make their final start at Hastings at the current meet will receive $2,000 if their first start in 2015 is in a $5,000 claiming race or less at Hastings. Horses who race over the winter are not eligible for the subsidy.

“We need every horse we can get,” said Milburn. “This is meant to encourage owners to keep bottom-level horses they might be thinking of selling.”

At least one horse who was probably going to be sold will be back next year. Owner-trainer Rennie Lumsden was considering selling Actxoticly after the meet ends but now plans to bring him back. A 4-year-old, Actxoticly is a pretty honest horse with a 1-2-2 record from seven starts at the meet. His lone win came in a $5,000 maiden-claiming race.

“It isn’t a huge amount of money, but it is enough to make a difference,” said Lumsden. “I think it’s a great idea, and hopefully there are more guys like me that will hold onto their horses instead of getting rid of them.”