The Province newspaper’s J.J. Adams reported on the plight of B.C. breeders as Hastings Racecourse was unable to open its 128th racing season on April 26 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The backstretch at Hastings is expected to re-open to horses and horsepeople on Friday, May 1.
Breeding, birthing and raising a foal to sellable age can cost up to $30,000. Many B.C. farms are reluctant to commit to that financial outlay, despite the incentives in place for breeders in the province. And the math is ultimately pretty simple. No horses, no racing.
Read article “B.C. horse-racing industry facing foal-shortage fallout” here.
