BIG DAYS AHEAD AT HASTINGS - THE CUP, BC CUP and BC DERBY

By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport

The upcoming second-half of the Hastings Racecourse 2023 season kicks into high gear with the 12th edition of The Cup on Saturday, July 22. It has become the popular ticketed event at Hastings expected to draw 10,000 Derby-style revellers decked out in stylish daytime fashions enjoying live entertainment, exotic food and cocktails and, not to be forgotten, eight exciting thoroughbred races.

Regular racing with free admission, resumes with a 2:00 p.m. post time Sunday, July 23 prior to the first of four popular Friday Night Live Racing cards on Friday, July 28 with a start time of 7:00 p.m.  The remaining Friday Night attractions are set for August 4, 11 and 18.

Highlighting the month of August will be the long-established BC Cup Day extravaganza on the August 7 Holiday Monday featuring six $50,000 Stakes with the BC Cup Classic for 3-year-olds & up and the BC Cup Distaff for fillies and mares 3-year-olds & up sharing centre stage.

In addition, the 2:00 p.m. card includes the BC Cup Nursery for 2-year-old colts and geldings; BC Cup Debutante for 2-year-old fillies; Hong Kong Jockey Club for 3-year-old fillies and Sir Winston Churchill for 3-year-olds.

Monday, August 7 also marks the first leg of the Western Canadian Triple Crown when Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia band together to stage a new series with $450,000 in purse money with a potential $100,000 bonus on the table.

It begins with the $125,000 Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia Downs August 7, followed by the $200,000 Canadian Derby at Century Mile in Edmonton on August 26 and the $125,000 BC Derby at Hastings on Saturday, September 16. If a horse wins all three of the prestigious Derby events for 3-year-olds there is an additional $100,000 bonus awarded to the successful owner.

In the meantime, the popular $20,000 Pick 4 Guaranteed Pool at Hastings continues through the balance of the season as well as the Classic $1 Pick 5 with a takeout of just 15%.