Ten race days and five weekends into the 2015 season at Hastings Racecourse has shown a clear resurgence locally in the popularity of the legendary Sport of Kings.
Case in point: wagering was up nearly 30 per cent this past weekend compared to the same time last year. Overall, the daily handle for live racing is up 22 per cent compared to 2014 and while there is not an admission charge or turnstile count for patrons at Hastings, the size of recent crowds makes it apparent attendance has also shown a considerable increase over last year.
“It’s been a great start and our challenge now is to keep the momentum going,” said Darren MacDonald, Hastings General Manager and Director, BC Racing. “Good weather and good racing have been key to our growth this year. Almost every race day has seen sizeable growth in attendance and handle over the comparable day from 2014.”
MacDonald and his management team are busily preparing for what promises to be the biggest attraction of the early season with the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes in New York on Saturday, June 6 that will be shown live on the 40-foot jumbo screen at Hastings.
The entire racing world will be watching as three-year-old sensation American Pharoah attempts to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont in 1978 … 37 years ago!
Hastings has billed the Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7 weekend as its ‘Spring Showcase’. In addition to presenting live coverage of the Belmont, the June 6 card will include two $50,000 stakes with the running of the Emerald Downs and River Rock Casino, followed by the $50,000 Sir Winston Churchill and Vancouver Sun on Sunday, June 7.
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