This must be the setting for the loveliest racecourse in the world. When a visit was made to the course in May 2012 the sun was shining, the temperature was 28C and there was snow on the Rockies in the background. The Hastings Park racecourse can be found in Vancouver in British Columbia, 6.4 kilometres east of Vancouver City Centre. It opened in 1889 when known as East Park racecourse, later to become Exhibition Park. There was an injection of cash in the mid 1960s when a state of the art three tier grandstand was built, capable of seating 5000 punters. The tight left handed oval dirt track has a perimeter of just 5 furlongs, with meetings being staged on Saturday or Sunday between April and October. Its principal races are the Group 3 British Columbia Derby and Oaks, as well as the Ballerina Breeder's Cup Stakes. It also hosts the Futurity Stakes. The British Columbia Derby is run over 9 furlongs for 3 year olds and was first introduced in 1946 when Pacific Pearl was successful. Those early races took place at Lansdowne Racecourse, located at Richmond in British Columbia, but the race moved to Hastings in 1961. In 2011 Crew Leader won the S W Randall Plate, Class Included triumphed in The Oaks, Almost Time won the British Columbia Cup, and Jebrica won The Premiers.
British Columbia Derby winners since 1946
1946 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Pacific Pearl
1947 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Cisalworth
1948 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Ohsodry
1949 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Ab Jr.
1950 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Sco
1951 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Eddies Boy
1952 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Battened Down
1953 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Liege
1954 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Quality Quest
1955 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by My Ladylove
1956 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Ali Miss
1957 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Donn Baykey
1958 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Major Turley
1959 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Ky Music
1960 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Colin Baykey
1961 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Black Balladier
1962 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Enchalade
1963 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Feasible
1964 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by George Royal
1965 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Hanko
1966 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Bright Monarch
1967 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Ahead Tiger
1968 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Treasures Glory
1969 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Essence of Time
1970 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Mincemeat
1971 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Command Module
1972 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Decidedly D
1973 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Kokos Pal
1974 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Norland
1975 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Auguste
1976 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by DBS Dream
1977 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Bucksaw
1978 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Five Star General
1979 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Pole Position
1980 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Ensign Earnem
1981 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Tempos Tiger
1982 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Travelling Victor
1983 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Prairie Breaker
1984 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Lets Go Blue
1985 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Imperial Choice
1986 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Fortinbras
1987 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Irish Bear
1988 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Regal Intention
1989 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Fleet Reserve
1990 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Ever Steady trained by Peter Gregory and ridden by Samuel Krasner
1991 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Bolulight trained by Peter Gregory and ridden by Mark Patzer
1992 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Jellystone Park trained by Dan Ragen and ridden by Daniel Brock
1993 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Humptys Hoedown trained by Mike Chambers and ridden by Samuel Krasner
1994 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Squire Jones trained by Lance Geisbrecht and ridden by Buddy Winnett
1995 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Flying Sauce trained by Sid Martin and ridden by Robbie King
1996 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Newdigs trained by Terry Jordan and ridden by Chris Loseth
1997 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Bobbin For Stars trained by Lance Geisbrecht and ridden by Samuel Krasner
1998 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Vernon Invader trained by Alex Murray and ridden by Chris Loseth
1999 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Wandering trained by Steve Bryant and ridden by Samuel Krasner
2000 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Makors Mark trained by David Forster and ridden by Gary Baze
2001 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Fancy As trained by Red Smith and ridden by Richard Hamel
2002 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Cruising Kat trained by Daryl Snow and ridden by Nicola Wright
2003 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Roscoe Pito trained by John Snow and ridden by Pedro Alvarado
2004 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Flamethrointexan trained by Kay Penny Cooper and ridden by Ricky Frazier
2005 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Spaghetti Mouse trained by Gary Demorest and ridden by David Wilson
2006 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Halo Steven trained by Barbara Heads and ridden by Pedro Alvarado
2007 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Celtic Dreamin trained by Rafael Becerra and ridden by Gerry Olguin
2008 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Krazy Koffee trained by Cindy Krasner Cooper and ridden by David Wilson
2009 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Winning Machine trained by Doris Harwood and ridden by Gallyn Mitchell
2010 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Majesticality trained by Barbara Heads and ridden by Richard Hamel
2011 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Northern Causeway trained by Len Kasmerski and ridden by William Antongeorgi
2012 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Second City trained by Craig MacPherson and ridden by Richard Hamel
2013 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Title Contender trained by Anita Bolton and ridden by Rio Walcott
2014 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Alert Bay trained by Anita Bolton and ridden by Rio Walcott
2015 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Academic trained by Tim Rycroft and ridden by Justin Stein
2016 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Sorryaboutnothing trained by Troy Taylor and ridden by Antonio Ambrosio Reyes
2017 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Chief Know It All trained by Robertino Diodoro and ridden by Rio Walcott
2018 The British Columbia Derby over 9 furlongs was won by Sky Promise trained by Robertino Diodoro and ridden by Rio Walcott
British Columbia Oaks winners since 1978
1978 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Right Chilly trained by Samuel Krasner and ridden by Robert Gregg Anderson
1979 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Anarchist trained by Mark Walker and ridden by June Anderson
1980 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Pachena trained by B M Boyd and ridden by Mel Jackson
1981 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Davette trained by Dana Zook and ridden by Albert Jarvis
1982 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Au Printemps trained by Brian Johnson and ridden by David Forster
1983 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Tense Moment trained by Chris Loseth and ridden by Don Morison
1984 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Splendid Purchase trained by Brian Johnson and ridden by Ed Thompson
1985 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Midnight Child trained by Randolph Mills and ridden by Arnold Turner
1986 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Writing Home trained by Brian Johnson and ridden by Jim Scammell
1987 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Stitch An A Half trained by Chris Loseth and ridden by Larry Ross
1988 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Delta Colleen trained by Chris Loseth and ridden by Harold Barroby
1989 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Purl One trained by Aureliano and ridden by David Forster
1990 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Pro Life trained by Ruben Dario Solis and ridden by David Forster
1991 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Cadette Stevens trained by Gary Baze and ridden by Larry Ross
1992 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Senate Appointee trained by Samuel Krasner and ridden by Harry Johnson
1993 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Astro Beauty trained by Samuel Krasner and ridden by Frank Barroby
1994 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Take Her To Heart trained by Buddy Winnett and ridden by Dwight Gormley
1995 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Dark Hours trained by Chris Loseth and ridden by Dale Saunders
1996 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Ever Lasting trained by Chris Loseth and ridden by Larry Ross
1997 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Ball Beauty trained by Chris Loseth and ridden by Robert Van Overschot
1998 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Ultimate Force trained by Frank Perez Fuentes and ridden by Michael Turner
1999 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Lasting Chance trained by Chris Loseth and ridden by Steve Henson
2000 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Grooms Derby trained by Ben Russell and ridden by Michael Turner
2001 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Collect Call trained by Chris Loseth and ridden by Christopher Paasch
2002 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Elana DAmour trained by Pedro Alvarado and ridden by Joe Apperloo
2003 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Raylene trained by Rickey Walcott and ridden by Rodney Haynes
2004 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Summer Symphony trained by Chad Hoverson and ridden by David Forster
2005 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Monashee trained by Justin Stein and ridden by Tracy McCarthy
2006 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Real Candy trained by Frank Perez Fuentes and ridden by Quinton McCabe
2007 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Alpine Garden trained by Quincy Welch and ridden by Terry Jordan
2008 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Blue Sky Holiday trained by Chad Hoverson and ridden by John Snow
2009 The British Columbia Oaks was won by La Rocca trained by Fernando Hernandez Perez and ridden by Tracy Jordan
2010 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Zenovit trained by Kevin Krigger and ridden by Larry Ross
2011 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Class Included trained by Jim Penney and ridden by Russell Baze
2012 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Evelyns Dancer trained by Mario Gutierrez and ridden by Troy Taylor
2013 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Tempered Steel trained by Mario Gutierrez and ridden by Brian OConnell
2014 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Oles Miss trained by Amadeo Perez and ridden by Tracy McCarthy
2015 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Heros Amor trained by Rio Walcott and ridden by Tim Rycroft
2016 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Victress trained by Amadeo Perez and ridden by Robert Gilker
2017 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Daz Lin Dawn trained by Richard Harvey Hamel and ridden by Nancy Betts
2018 The British Columbia Oaks was won by Heres Hannah trained by Richard Harvey Hamel and ridden by John Morrison
