The Breeders’ Cup is just about to get underway at Churchill Downs. It’s grown from humble beginnings in 1984 to one of the highlights in the racing season. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more competitive gathering of racehorses in North America. This of course, translates into one heck of a betting bonanza as [...]

Saturday Aug 27 will mark the 142nd running of the Travers Stakes at Saratoga.  After the Kentucky Derby, it’s arguably the most important race for 3 year old horses, and certainly has implications for the Breeders’ Cup.  A competitive showing could lead to a shot at the Classic this November. 12th Race - Saratoga – Saturday, [...]

Here’s a quick brief on what’s been making news in the racing world, here at Hastings and abroad: BC Cup day at Hastings was a success in terms of wagering handle and on track crowd.  It was by far the best day for the track financially, with bettors wagering over a million dollars (typical handle [...]

  Here’s a small preview of what to expect tomorrow, by Tommy Wolski’s Sport of Kings TV. First race is at 12:20 noon.  Hastings has put together a 10 race card on what has become the signature day on the racing calendar here in Vancouver.  There’s even a possibility of a Pick 5 carryover, if [...]

The weather gods showed a little kindness to racing fans today, equine and canine.  After qualifying in his heat, Joey the wiener dog proved to doubters that he was worthy of a three-peat as he emerged to take the last heat in his final strides (watch the replay here).  A healthy crowd turned up to [...]

Two-day Showdown – 64 Dogs – at Hastings This Weekend With his owner Nancy Green saying he’s not too old to cut the mustard, ‘Joey’ the wiener dog is returning to Hastings Racecourse this weekend with hopes of winning his third straight championship. It’s the 3rd annual Wiener Dog competition with all 64 kennels having been [...]

 The regular Friday Night Live card at Hastings Racecourse has been adjusted to a Friday Afternoon Live program today with a 3:20 p.m. start to accommodate the BC Lions CFL home opener at Empire Field.  In a message to the masses, Raj Mutti, Regional General Manager, BC Racing, has invited football fans to drop by [...]

  We are halfway through the 2011 racing season at Hastings, and the traditional Canada Day card is set for tomorrow at 1:50pm.  With the new Pick 5 rules in effect, this might be the day where we see the first carryover for the year.  The Pick 5 races look to be quite contentious with [...]

Here is a recap of what is going on at Hasting Racecourse on Canada Day: CANADA DAY CELEBRATIONS GET ROLLING AT HASTINGS Two great stakes races, live music by Dr. Strangelove, a Family Zone and a chance to win a weekend getaway to Predator Ridge are all part of the Canada Day celebrations at Hastings [...]

 Cindy Krasner sensed something good might be up with Wando Woman and the veteran trainer was proved to be a bit of a psychic Saturday afternoon at Hastings Racecourse. Wando Woman, a four-year-old B.C.-bred filly ridden by Frank Fuentes, came from the back of the pack to win the $50,000 Vancouver Sun Handicap in a final [...]

The track was muddy but the sun was peeking through for the Sun‘s annual $50,000 race for fillies and mares.  Wando Woman, with rider Frank Fuentes, topped heavy favourite, Caged Mistress.  Here were some photos:  

The feature race tomorrow at Hastings Park will be a handicap race sharing the same name of this fine blog site.  It’s a route race for fillies and mares, and there’s a good possibility of a rainy afternoon at the track.  Here’s a look at the field: STAKES. 1 1/16 Mile Dirt.Purse $50,000.Vancouver Sun Handicap. [...]

Since 1978, when he first started announcing at Fraser Downs, Dan Jukich’s voice has been a familiar accompaniment to racing fans in the province. He spoke to Off-Track Blogging in his announcer’s booth at Hastings, where he has announced since 1990, where he watches the races with a set of binoculars, stepping on a foot pedal to activate his microphone.

Incase you missed it, the Belmont Stakes last Saturday nearly blew up the toteboard.  Ruler on Ice took the 143rd running at 24-1.  I figured he could hit the toteboard, just not in the win spot.  The horse I was rooting for, Brilliant Speed, appeared to have the race in hand at the stretch, only [...]

  With the 143rd Belmont Stakes running this Saturday, OTB has done a rundown of the field.  While there won’t be a Triple Crown winner in 2011, there are still some compelling storylines in this race.  Both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners will be running again, and they’ll be taking much of the betting [...]

Nestled between Games 5 and 6 of the Cup finals, the Belmont Stakes will be running for the 143rd time on June 11.  Nicknamed “The Test of a Champion”, it’s one of the few dirt races still contested at 1.5 miles (2.4 KM).  Despite the decline in thoroughbred stamina over the years, it’s not likely to [...]

Preakness 136 is in the books, and it was a good one. Shackleford wires the field at odds of 12-1, with Animal Kingdom second, and Astrology third.  The pace was faster for about 3/4 of the race, but slowed down as runners approached the stretch run.  There will be no Triple Crown this year, folks. [...]

Here’s a closer look at the field for the 136th Preakness: 1) Astrology:  Highly regarded horse didn’t have much of an excuse to lose the Sunland Derby, but may have needed a race or two before getting into winning form.  Responded with a much better effort in the Jerome despite being second.  Could run a [...]

The Preakness is upon us, and with Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom installed as the worthy 2-1 Morning Line favourite, there is not too much left to ponder except what to do to watch and/or celebrate the race. We all know that the Kentucky Derby is about fancy hats, mint juleps and red roses. What [...]

It’s just under 2 days till the 136th Preakness, and the field has been drawn.  Animal Kingdom, winner of the Kentucky Derby, has been made the morning line favourite at 2-1.  I would expect his odds to be lower at post time, probably 6-5 or even money.  He won the Derby gamely although the pace [...]

I first met Marlo Dunn in 2009 when she was working as a groom for Mel Snow and living in a tack room in the Hastings backside.  Last fall, she started as an apprentice rider (or a “bug”—a term first given because of the way asterisk that appears besides a new jockey’s name).  This past [...]

Things are abit quiet on the racing front, this being post-Derby week.  Still, there are some blog worthy items: Despite good intentions by Hastings management, betting handle is down in 2011 compared to 2010.  After 10 days of racing, a total of 4.28 million has been bet, compared to 4.90 million the previous year (source: [...]

By the end of a wet, cloudy day at Hastings, the sky was pelting hail stones that were the size of marbles.  Even so, some afficionados of the Run for the Roses still made it out to their local meet to watch Derby Day on the many monitors playing it. Stagette at Silks     [...]

In his first race over a dirt surface, 20-1 shot Animal Kingdom came home first in Saturday’s 137th running of the Kentucky Derby. Ridden by John Velazquez and trained by Graham Motion, Animal Kingdom won in front of a record-setting crowd of 164,858 at Churchill Downs. Animal Kingdom came from off the pace to pay [...]