VANCOUVER — A horse racing tradition in Vancouver for more than 130 years is closing permanently.
Hastings Racecourse and Casino says in a statement that thoroughbred horse racing at the facility in East Vancouver is ending effective immediately.
Wayne Odegard, regional vice-president with the Great Canadian Entertainment, says it was an “extremely difficult decision” to make, especially given the historical legacy of Hastings Racecourse and its importance to B.C.’s horse racing industry.
Odegard says in a statement that it was “strictly a business decision based on a lack of economic feasibility to move forward with another season of horse racing at Hastings.”
Media reports this week, including from the CBC and Global News, said that the provincial government was cutting off the company’s share of slot machine revenues.
The Vancouver Humane Society says in a statement that cutting off the funding was an important step toward phasing out an industry that has long relied on government money amid declining attendance, shrinking revenues, and ongoing animal welfare concerns.
Odegard says their focus will be moving forward to support its impacted team members through the transition and racing participants as they evaluate their options for thoroughbred racing in the province in the future.
The Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association of B.C. said in a statement that the announcement of the closure was “deeply distressing.”
It says the decision by the government to eliminate the long-standing slot-revenue commitment with little notice has undermined the foundation of the thoroughbred racing industry in B.C.
The group’s president David Milburn said the shock of the closure extends far beyond the race track.
“Hastings Racecourse has been home to live racing for generations. By removing the revenue structure that made racing viable, the province has placed workers, owners, breeders, trainers, and agricultural suppliers in an impossible position.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2025.
The Canadian Press
