The 2016 thoroughbred racing season will begin in mid-April and conclude in mid-October it was announced today by Hastings Racecourse General Manager Darren MacDonald.
“It was great to come to a mutually beneficial schedule with the horsemen’s groups,” MacDonald said. “I couldn’t be happier. Now we just wait for the approval of the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch (GPEB).”
Opening day in 2016 will be Sunday, April 17 and the schedule will encompass 53 dates that conclude on Sunday, October 16.
There will be six Friday Night Live cards, up from five this past season, all beginning at 7:00 p.m. “We have determined that over and above Friday nights being popular with a young demographic, they have also caught on with the corporate sector,” MacDonald said.
“We will start them on July 22, run four consecutive Friday nights in August and finish with Friday, September 2.”
Six Monday dates have been confirmed, May 23, August 1, 22 & 29, September 5 and October 10. The balance of the schedule involves Saturday and Sunday afternoons with 1:50 p.m. start times.
The 2016 calendar will soon be available on the Hastings website at www.hastingsracecourse.com. MacDonald said the 2016 stakes schedule will be announced at a later date.
This year’s Thoroughbred Awards Dinner and Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies are set for Thursday, December 3 at the Newlands Golf and Country Club. Tickets are available at cgossen@gmail.com or cthsbc@cthsbc.org.
The 2015 racing season concludes at Hastings Racecourse this weekend with Saturday and Sunday start times of 1:50 pm.
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