Looking forward to Hastings 2010 · 10.04.10

With about two weeks to go before Hastings Racecourse opens for its 71-day race meet, there is some reason to feel optimism for the 2010 season. Hastings management is taking some initiatives to both enhance the local racing product and to raise its public profile.

Director of Racing Paul Ryneveld has been on the road since early March, trying to convince owners and trainers throughout the western U.S. and Canada to bring their stables to Hastings. Ryneveld was quoted by Tom Wolski a few weeks ago: “Since we will have not cut our purses this year, several stables have begun showing interest in perhaps racing at Hastings this season… [S]everal horsemen [in Washington and Oregon] have said they will be thinking about shipping horses to Hastings”. Another attraction for some stables, especially those based at Portland Meadows, is the reduced claiming price for low-level claimers at Hastings: “That fits many of the horses who race there”. Finally, according to Ryneveld, some trainers based in the B.C. Interior who would normally ship to Alberta are now tempted to first send their horses to Hastings to take advantage of the earlier start to the Vancouver racing season.

The barns at Hastings are filling, with 820 horses now on-site according to the latest press releases. Entries for the opening weekend, April 24/25, are according to Ryneveld “right on target”.

Meanwhile, Hastings GM Raj Mutti announced today plans for an “Open House” on April 18, when owners, trainers, jockeys and VIP guests will be served breakfast at track-side as they watch the horses work out. Three days later there will be a “Media Lunch” in the Eclipse Lounge, where members of the local media will have a chance to chat with horsemen at all levels of the sport.

[An aside: When can we expect something similar for fans and horseplayers? Please?]

Also announced by Mutti was a new radio and television advertising campaign with TEAM Radio and KVOS Television. Expanding on the cross-promotions with the BC Lions announced earlier, the Eclipse Lounge will host a pre-game show on TEAM Radio on nights the Lions are playing next door at Empire Fields, and several other promotions, including discount vouchers and special offers to football fans, are in the works. KVOS-TV will start airing new Hastings commercials starting the week of April 19. In addition, expanded print media advertising and promotional campaigns are also being promised.

Oh, and Hastings is now on Facebook and Twitter — just like the kidz!

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What do you think?

  1. Now if they only had enough jockeys. One of the stewards related that as of 4/9 only 12 riders were on the grounds. I just received a message from a jockey’s agent in Arizona and will send his number to them to see if any jocks might want to come up here.

    — Dr. T. Yatcak · Apr 10, 01:22 PM · #

  2. Good morning,

    The Open House is open to fans, they are referred to as the VIP guests as I dont want people form the neighborhood coming out just for a free breakfast and taking off as that has happened various times when we announce this to a more general crowd.

    if you have any direct questions let me know.

    thanks

    — Raj Mutti · Apr 10, 01:25 PM · #

  3. Mr. Mutti — thanks for the clarification! I always appreciate feedback from Hastings.

    — E-man · Apr 10, 11:42 PM · #

  4. For the last two seasons more butts have filled the seats, that is, when the gimmicks pulled them out, but NOT A SINGLE THING was imparted to these fans so that they could come BACK and enjoy the racing.

    What do wiener dogs, boxing and mascots have to do with wagering on horses?

    — Dr. T. Yatcak · Apr 12, 12:19 PM · #

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