Live Racing Returns to Hastings Racecourse on Saturday, May 3 to kick off the 2025 Season

Hastings Racecourse is thrilled to announce the return of live thoroughbred racing on Saturday, May 3 starting at 2:30 PM PT / 5:30 PM ET. The opening card of racing will be running alongside the prestigious 151st running of the Kentucky Derby from Churchill Downs.

The 2025 racing calendar features 45 programs headlined by signature events such as The Cup on July 19, the BC Cup on August 4, and the BC Derby on September 13.

Hastings is proud to be a part of the Western Canadian Derby Series again this year, a three-leg test of Canada’s top 3-year-olds that begins with the Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia Downs, continues to the Canadian Derby at Century Mile, and culminates at Hastings with the BC Derby. A $100,000 Derby Bonus awaits any horse that can sweep the series, with an additional $25,000 Owner-Trainer Bonus intensifying the competition.

This season also introduces exciting changes to the wagering menu. Among the changes is the unique $1 minimum bet Jackpot Pick 5, designed to deliver more frequent, larger payouts than traditional jackpot formats with lower minimums. 

The other change to the wagering menu for 2025 is Rolling Doubles offered on all races, extending the successful introduction of the $2 minimum bet on the Double last year.

There was a lot of interest to introduce a pool that created the excitement of a big jackpot and we wanted to do something new to ensure that there was more opportunity for horseplayer value than traditional models,” said Dawn Lupul, Manager, Racing and Communications. “We are pretty excited for this twist on the Jackpot Pick 5 pool and the $2 Rolling Doubles.”

These additions build on Hastings’ commitment to horseplayers, with some of the lowest takeout rates in the industry with just 15% on almost all pools, including Win, Place, Show, Rolling Doubles, Classic Hi-5, Pick 3, Pick 4, and the Jackpot Pick 5.