Horse Racing Ends at Hastings Racecourse After More Than 130 Years, Casinos Remain Open

The historic Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver, British Columbia — one of Canada’s longest-running horse racing venues since 1889 — has announced that thoroughbred horse racing will no longer take place at the track, effective immediately. This marks the end of over 130 years of live horse racing in the province.

The decision was made following a recent announcement by the British Columbia government that it will stop allocating casino slot machine revenue to support horse racing operations starting in 2026. That revenue stream had previously helped make live racing at Hastings financially viable.

In a statement, Wayne Odegard, Regional Vice President of Great Canadian Entertainment, the operator of Hastings Racecourse & Casino — described the closure as an “extremely difficult decision,” explaining that it was driven by a lack of economic feasibility to continue racing without the support of slot revenue.

Although live horse racing has ended, the casino operations and simulcast betting facilities at Hastings will remain open, and are not impacted by the change.

This development comes after the earlier closure of the Fraser Downs harness racing track in Surrey, British Columbia, in August 2025, leaving Hastings as the province’s last major horse racing venue prior to its closure.

Industry observers note that while horse racing’s long tradition in the province is ending, gaming venues such as casinos continue to operate and contribute to the area’s entertainment and economic landscape.