Hastings to Offer Higher Purses in 2011

Hastings Racecourse & Slots will offer a 71-day Thoroughbred meet in 2011 and increase purses double digits, officials said.

The meet at the British Columbia, Canada, racetrack will run from April 16-Oct. 2 with racing three days a week through most of the session. Racing will be held most Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, according to the schedule released by the track in late December.

A 41-stakes schedule is on tap with purses totaling $2.57 million. The top allowance race purse will be $32,500, which includes a bonus for horses bred in British Columbia.

Last year, purses averaged $113,640 a day, according to The Jockey Club Information Systems.

The stakes schedule features the $200,000 British Columbia Derby (Can-III) Sept. 10. Two other grade III (Canada) events, the Ballerina and British Columbia Premiers, are scheduled for Oct. 2.

British Columbia championship day, with seven stakes, is set for Aug. 1.

Hastings is owned by Great Canadian Gaming, which recently appointed Raj Mutti as regional general manager of Hastings and Fraser Downs, a nearby harness track.

Stall applications for Hastings are due Jan. 21, 2011. The barn area will open Jan. 28, and training will commence Feb. 1, officials said.