By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport SCENE & HEARD: It’s that time of year again when things get edgy in the Jack Short Media Lounge high above track level at Hastings Racecourse. Normally the found-ins seem to be a happy little group that takes great delight in exchanging good-natured (we think) insults. Three of…
By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport SCENE & HEARD: It wasn’t that long ago when Amadeo Perez and Enrique Gonzalez were doing their own version of Mexico’s national dance – the Jarabe Tapito – as a racing season was nearing its conclusion at Hastings Racecourse. The year was 2013 and it appeared Perez was…
By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport DERBY LEFTOVERS: As The Irish Rovers of 1980’s fame would suggest: “Wasn’t That A Party?” Saturday’s 73rd running of the BC Derby lived up to its expectations as one of the highlights on Vancouver’s entertainment scene this year. The fascinators were fascinating, the fedoras were fashionable and a…
Since Wednesday’s draw for this afternoon’s 73rd running of the BC Derby it’s been mentioned numerous times by veteran racing regulars that this could be the best of its kind in many years. The last time our marquee event had a full gate was in 2011 when Northern Causeway won the Derby with trainer Len…
By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport SCENE & HEARD: There is no question that the Grade 3, $150,000 BC Derby next Saturday is the premier event of the Hastings Racecourse season. Not just the Derby itself but the entire card that includes the $100,000 BC Oaks, the two $100,000 Jack and Sadie Diamond Futurities,…
By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport SCENE & HEARD: Aaron Gryder put Hastings Racecourse on the international racing map last Friday night when he blazed into the spotlight with five wins in consecutive races, including three straight $50,000 CTHS Sales Stakes features. The Jockey’s Guild that represents more than 950 riders in North America…
By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport SCENE & HEARD: During these lazy, hazy days of summer – and we do mean hazy – there’ve been all kinds of new patrons surface at Hastings Racecourse over the past couple of months. Case in point: a group of 50 from Canucks Sports & Entertainment taking over…
By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport SCENE & HEARD: A whole new world opened up to Burnaby couple Carol and Gary Walters in the summer of 2015 when they were walked through the tunnel leading to the backstretch at Hastings Racecourse. Gary had just signed on as one of 200 racing fans as Hastings…