Hastings Park Casino’s Big Pivot: What’s Next After Horse Racing Bites the Dust?
Posted on: December 10, 2025, 01:04h.
Last updated on: December 10, 2025, 01:51h.
- Horse racing at Hastings Park & Casino shuts down after 130 years of operation
- Great Canadian Entertainment already sold the casino part of the operation to a BC First Nation last month
- The MLS Whitecaps are looking to build a new stadium on the site
Last week came the news that Hastings Park in East Vancouver was closing its doors for thoroughbred racing, effective immediately, shutting British Columbia’s last operating horse track after 130 years of operations.
The BC government announced a few weeks earlier that slot machine revenue from the property’s casino operations would no longer be allocated for horse racing purses there, and that was the death knell.
The decision to close was made by casino and racetrack operator Great Canadian Entertainment.
Lack of Economic Feasibility
“This was an extremely difficult decision, especially given the historical legacy of Hastings Racecourse in the local community and its importance to the province’s racing industry,” said Great Canadian Entertainment Regional Vice President Wayne Odegard.
Unfortunately, this is strictly a business decision based on a lack of economic feasibility to move forward with another season of horse racing at Hastings. We are incredibly thankful for our dedicated team members, racing participants and fan base for their support and patronage for so many years.”
Odegard said Great Canadian will focus on moving forward and on supporting its impacted team members and racing participants through the transition.
130 Years of Horse Racing
Operations of the casino and simulcast racebook at the facility won’t be impacted by the closure of the horse track.
Hastings Racecourse & Casino had been located in Vancouver since 1889, but had recently been facing financial challenges. The venue features a five-furlong racing surface and stabling for several hundred horses. Great Canadian Entertainment leases the facility from the City of Vancouver and has operated it since 2004.
The casino at the racecourse opened in 2008, with Great Canadian Entertainment undertaking property upgrades.
What’s Next?
Great Canadian Entertainment sold the casino portion of the property to the Tsleil-Waututh Nation in November. The casino, which is open year-round, features 400 slot machines, from classic reels to flashier video slots with progressive jackpots, blackjack, roulette, and craps, plus a poker room with regular tournaments. There’s a small sports lounge, called Eclipse, for betting on games.
Great Canadian Entertainment has been actively divesting itself of its BC casinos, selling several BC First Nations over the past year. Closing down the horse racing part of the Hastings Park operation is the last piece of business for Great Canadian on that property.
On the Hastings Park site, construction of a new 10K-seat PNE amphitheatre is progressing, and is expected to be completed in time for its use as the FIFA Fan Festival site for the World Cup, with several matches to be held in Vancouver next June.
In addition, MLS’ Vancouver Whitecaps announced last spring they had begun talks with the city to build a stadium on the site.
No comments yet