Hastings Steeped in History

Photo credit; Stuart Thomson and City of Vancouver Archives.

Historians have recorded the first thoroughbred race staged in Vancouver was in 1889 down the middle of what was to become Howe Street.  Shortly thereafter, horse racing moved to Hastings East, where the present-day Hastings Racecourse still stands.

During the winter of 1964 a new grandstand was built, the racing strip was revamped and lights were installed for night racing.

Fans stormed the new setting with men and women dressed in their finest attire. Fedoras and fascinators became the accepted racetrack fashion.

Today thoroughbred racing at Hastings remains the longest continuously attended professional sport facility in Vancouver history.