August 01, 2008 | Tips from Travellers >
Vancouver, Professional & Spectator Sports
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I had a free Sunday afternoon and a few toonies jingling in my pocket. After weighing my options (going out for a scoop of gelato was a delicious contender) I grabbed the biggest hat I could find and decided on a day at Hastings Racecourse.
While not as glamorous as the horse-racing you see on TV (I scanned the crowd and I was the only one in a Kentucky Derby-esque enormous hat), Hastings Racecourse has a charm of its own – especially for a novice horse gambler like me.
When my friends and I arrived at the track, the races were already underway. We spent the first twenty minutes deciphering the text-heavy racing program, placed our $2 bets (using scientific betting methods such as “I like gray coloured horses” and “Mister La Rock is an awesome name”) and sidled up to the white fence near the finish line.
There is a lot of racing lingo, but the racecourse staff was patient (and thankfully not condescending) as we stumbled our way through Trifectas and asked questions about Lasix. We picked up a free How-to guide to make things easier.
I started my afternoon as a quiet race-watcher, but by the end of the day, I was on my feet, pumping my fist and cheering on the ponies by name: “C’MON Krazy Koffee!” What can I say? The crowd’s excitement is contagious.
The afternoon flew by in a blur of toonies and sweaty thoroughbreds. At the end of the race day, I was only down about $0.90 overall (thanks to my scientific betting methods, no doubt) – not bad for a few hours of entertainment, and much more exciting than a scoop of gelato.
A few Hastings Racecourse tips:
- General admission to the racetrack is free (except during PNE Fair time).
- Live racing happens on the weekend (from April to November) and on Friday nights (from June to September).
- Parking costs $8, but you get a special voucher you can exchange for a free program and $5 off food or beverage purchases. Hastings Racecourse offers a shuttle service from various locations, and Translink has bus service to the racecourse.
- Check out www.hastingsracecourse.com for race schedules and shuttle bus information.
- Before the race begins, get a closer look at the horses as they walk around a small paddock off to the side.