Meet opens with fewer days scheduled due to lack of horses

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The 2014 Hastings meet begins Sunday with a strong card that includes a couple 6 1/2-furlong sprint stakes. The $50,000 George Royal for 3-year-olds and up drew eight horses and goes as the sixth race. Fillies and mares get their turn in the $50,000 Brighouse Belles in the seventh race. Both races appear to be wide-open events.

Horsemen and management were both pleased with how entries went for opening day, with 60 horses in for the eight-race card. Last year, 69 days were scheduled, but due to a shortage of horses, five days were canceled. With fewer horses available this year, the number of days was reduced to 51. The meet is scheduled to end Oct. 13, but if the budget set by the British Columbia Horse Racing Industry Management Committee is met, an additional four days will be added with the meet ending Oct. 26.

The government-appointed committee sets funding levels and allocates days for both the Standardbred and Thoroughbred sectors.

According to Brian Butters, director of Racing Sustainability, wagering is above budget so far, and everyone at Hastings is hopeful the trend continues so the extra days will be added.

David Milburn, president of the local Horsemen’s Benevolent Protective Association, is optimistic about the upcoming meet.

“It was nice to get off to a good start,” said Milburn, referring to the entries for opening day. “Of course we would like to run more often, but we have to be realistic, and right now, we just don’t have the horses to do it. I am certain the extra four days will be added, and we will run until the end of October. The good news is the average purse has gone up substantially, so when you do run, you are running for a lot more money.”

Milburn pointed out that non-B.C.-breds will be running for more than 35 percent more in a maiden special weight race than last year. Last year, non-B.C.-breds were running for 25 percent less than the advertised purse of $23,000. This year, they are treated equally while running for a $25,000 purse.

“That is a big increase, and we are hoping it will encourage people to buy or bring horses from other jurisdictions,” said Milburn.

Milburn is also enthusiastic about a new $8,000 starter series. The fine details are still being worked out, but the series begins July 13, and the final leg of the four-race series will be part of the B.C. Derby card Sept. 14. The purses for the first three races will be $16,000, with the top points earners running for a $50,000 purse in the finale. There is also a fillies and mares division. Under the starter conditions, horses had to have started for a claiming price of $8,000 or less in 2014 to be eligible for the series. All four races will be contested over 6 1/2-furlongs.

“We clearly need horses, and this series should be an incentive for local owners to go out and look for horses that are eligible,” said Milburn. “A $50,000 purse for an $8,000 claimer is something to get excited about. I am certainly in an acquisition frame of mind.”

Milburn also had good things to say about Darren MacDonald, who recently became the general manager at Hastings.

“I’m impressed by him,” said Milburn. “He’s enthusiastic, open-minded, and has some great ideas on how to grow the business.”

MacDonald is looking forward to the meet. He started out at Hastings as the casino manager.

“One thing I want to do is getting our fans to get more engaged with the jockeys and trainers,” said MacDonald. “They just don’t get the recognition they deserve.”

He is also confident his staff is prepared to make it a successful meet.

“We’re ready to go, and everyone is going to be working hard to make sure we reach our goal of running the extra four days,” said MacDonald.