BC Racebook Newsletter - August 22, 2024
Beautiful sunset for a Friday Night race card at Hastings Racecourse. Photo Michael Bye
Increased Friday Night Race Dates Open
New Opportunities for Hastings Racecourse
by Greg Douglas
It was back in December of last year when the decision was made to increase Friday Night racing dates for the 2024 season at Hastings Racecourse.
“We had some good success with four Friday nights in 2023.” said Matthew Ruhlman, BC Racebook Chief Executive Officer. “They attracted enthusiastic crowds and noticeable increased wagering both on and off track.”
The unanimous response was to increase the Friday Night Under the Lights schedule to 15 dates on the 2024 live racing calendar and with the season winding down, it has proven to be a major success.
“The results have been even better this year with the momentum continuing to build,” Ruhlman says. “There has been some great feedback from on-track fans and the Friday timing has opened new opportunities for Hastings to reach more horseplayers from all over North America. They have opened the door to coverage from Fanduel TV that has access to more than 60 million homes in the U.S.”
He noted that after 14 Friday Nights this year wagering is up nine per cent based on per race compared to the alternative Sunday afternoons that were replaced by the revised Friday dates.
Crowds continued to build each Friday night. “Not only did they attract a younger demographic on site, they also filled a void for our simulcast audience in different markets with different time zones throughout North America and worldwide,” says Dawn Lupul, BC Racebook Manager of Racing & Communications.
The last of this season’s popular 15 Friday Night Under the Lights agenda is set for September 6 with the customary 7:00 pm start.
Live racing resumes at Hastings on Monday, August 26 at 7:00 pm with four $50,000 CTHS-BC Stakes feature on the card on a night when the PNE Fair is not scheduled. As a result, there will be free parking for race fans.
$125,000 BC Derby (G3)
$75,000 BC Oaks
$100,000 Sadie Diamond Futurity
$100,000 Jack Diamond Futurity
Bailey on the Backstretch
by Bailey Williams
With the annual PNE Fair in full swing it is time for our thoroughbreds to relax and gear up for the running of the four CTHS-BC Sales stakes on Monday, August 26. That’s a dark night on the PNE schedule and Hastings Racecourse patrons are offered free parking, which is always a pleasant bonus.
One of the busiest trainers on the CTHS nomination sheet is popular Pat Jarvis. Among her four horses scheduled to run is probable favourite Dicoles nominated for the 3 & 4-year-old colt and geldings division. Dicoles scored an impressive and hard-fought stakes victory vending off a game What’s Shakin and August Rain to get the nose down in time to claim the Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial.
All of her racing success at the higher level could not happen to a more deserving human being than Pat Jarvis.
As the most recent recipient of the Richard Yates Backstretch Person of the Year Award Pat’s efforts to make the Hastings backstretch feel like home clearly does not go unnoticed.
She is always the first to welcome and help newcomers. Whether it be horses to gallop, hot walk or even a simple warm meal, Pat will give you a ‘leg up’ with her friendly smile and good-natured personality.
The horses in her care are treated and loved as though they were her own children. There is never a shortage of carrots and mints on hand and her support doesn’t end with the conclusion of the meet but continues into the winter months.
No matter if it be fate or good karma, having multiple BC horses nominated for the highly-anticipated CTHS Sales Stakes is a reward she rightfully deserves.
HORSEPOWER 4 HORSEPOWER
Saturday, September 7th, 2024
Nugent-Hopkins Family Out in Full Force to Witness Career Number 20 Win for Infinite Patience
Infinite Patience Celebrates Career Win # 20 with Family & Friends. Michael Bye Photo.
by Greg Douglas
The tarmac area, grandstands, private party patios and owners’ boxes began to fill up early for BC Cup Day on the August 5 holiday Monday at Hastings Racecourse.
Without a doubt, the most popular question on the minds of thoroughbred racing patrons was: “Do you think there’ll be a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins sighting today?”
Indeed, there was. The popular, polite and high-profile Edmonton Oilers’ forward was front and centre in the BC Cup Distaff winners’ circle following yet another impressive victory for Infinite Patience, the sensational seven-year-old mare now referred to as the ‘Queen of Hastings’.
Nugent-Hopkins co-owns Infinite Patience with local breeder Bill DeCoursey. It was career victory number 20 for the four-time winner of the BC Horse of the Year Award trained by Barbara Anderson-Heads.
Not only was the longest-serving player on the Oilers’ NHL roster on hand, he was joined by wife Breanne, baby daughter Lennon Ayla, Ryan’s brother and sister-in-law as well as his parents, Deb Nugent and Roger Hopkins. As always, the faithful DeCoursey clan was on hand, including Bill and wife Noi, their sons and grandson.
The Infinite Patience wire-to-wire finish in the Distaff under jockey Antonio Reyes was one of six $50,000 BC Cup stakes on one of the most exciting cards in recent memory that created a season’s best overall wagering handle of $1,061,584.
Other BC Cup stakes winners included Breezin Brianne in the Debutante, Mount Doom in the Nursery, Avana in the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Space in the Classic and Diocles in the Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial.
Upcoming highlights on the local thoroughbred scene include the return of the Wiener Dog Races on Saturday, August 10, the CTHS-BC Stakes on August 26, CTHS-BC Yearling & Mixed Sale August 28 at Thunderbird Show Park and the annual highlight of the racing season, BC Derby Day Saturday, September 14.
