By Darren MacDonald

General Manager

These are busy times heading into September with B.C. Derby/Oaks Day just around the corner. The lineup for Saturday, September 9 just doesn’t get any better:  the 72nd running of the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby for three-year-olds; the 55th running of the British Columbia Oaks for three-year-old fillies; the SW Randall Plate, Delta Colleen, Jack Diamond Futurity and Sadie Diamond Futurity all on one explosive card with $550,000 in purse money.

No other major sporting event on our local landscape has such a long and time-honoured history than the B.C. Derby.

But more on B.C. Derby/Oaks Day later … for now there are a few other notable items deserving of mention.

As the Fair at the PNE approaches there are some key racing dates that should be highlighted: two Monday afternoon cards with 5:00 p.m. start times on August 21 and August 28 when The Fair is not running and a special Wednesday night date on September 6 with a 7:00 p.m. start after the conclusion of The Fair. The Friday Night Live cards on August 25 and September 1 go as originally scheduled during The Fair.

The CTHS Sales Stakes highlight those August 21 and August 25 race dates with a combined $200,000 up for grabs in purse money.

The month of September also brings us the exciting CTHS Yearling and Mixed Sale at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley with the preview on Monday, September 11 at 3:00 p.m. and the sale the following day at 3:00 p.m. Check out the detailed agenda on Page 9 of today’s live racing program that lists some new developments surrounding the 2017 edition of the CTHS Sale.

And speaking of the CTHS (B.C. Division) management at Hastings Racecourse enthusiastically endorses this week’s HBPA news release that applauds Glen Todd as well as jockeys David Lopez, Richard Hamel and Mario Gutierrez for their generous donations on Monday’s B.C. Festival of Racing.

Glen donated the purse money in the non-wagering New Westminster $25,000 Allowance to the New Stride Thoroughbred Adoption Society and CTHS Marketing Fund while the jockeys donated their winnings to the B.C. Disabled Riding Fund.

Support like this from within the thoroughbred horse racing industry is deeply appreciated.