The 74th running of the BC Derby will take on a new look at Hastings Racecourse this year thanks to the generosity of BC Horse Racing Hall of Fame owner Peter Redekop.
Traditionally the richest stakes race on the Hastings calendar, the 2019 BC Derby became $100,000 richer with Mr. Redekop increasing the purse from $150,000 to $250,000.
“We are delighted to have one of the most accomplished horsemen in our province step up with such a tremendous sponsorship gesture,” said Darren MacDonald, Hastings Racecourse General Manager and Director, BC Racing.
Mr. Redekop has been a major part of the horse racing scene at Hastings since the 1960s and remains the only owner to capture the BC Derby three consecutive years with Second City in 2012, Title Contender in 2013 and Alert Bay in 2014. His first Derby win was with Squire Jones in 1994.
Stakes purses totaling $2.27 million click into gear on opening day Sunday, April 21st with the $50,000 Swift Thoroughbreds Inaugural and $50,000 Brighouse Belles. They will be the first of 36 stake races over the course of the 52-day live racing season that concludes on Sunday, October 20th.
TWO NEW START TIMES
BC Cup Day with seven stake races on Monday, August 5 and BC Derby/Oaks Day with four stakes on Saturday, September 7 will both be part of cards starting at 12:50 p.m. rather than the 1:50 p.m. starts in previous years.As was introduced last season, MacDonald said the BC Cup agenda will be open races all running on the same day. The card will include the Derby Bar and Grill BC Cup Classic and BC Cup Distaff along with the BC Cup Nursery, Debutante, Sir Winston Churchill Derby Trial and Hong Kong Jockey Club – all with $50,000 purses – and the $20,000 BC Cup Marathon.
The $250,000 BC Derby headlines the Derby/Oaks Day card that includes the 57th running of the $100,000 BC Oaks, the $50,000 S.W. Randall Plate and $50,000 Delta Colleen.
The 2019 Stakes Schedule including the addition of two races for non-stakes winners – the Autumn Leaves and the Lions Gate at the end of meet on Oct. 20th – is available at hastingsracecourse.com.
