BC's horse racing industry faces a crisis as Hastings Racecourse’s lease nears May 2026 expiry and Fraser Downs closes, threatening thousands of jobs tied to breeders, trainers, and track staff. Provincial support has dwindled while Great Canadian exits and racing lacks broadcast revenue, leaving purses and livelihoods in limbo.

The piece flags policy fights and lease confrontations that could reshape Hastings Park and Cloverdale’s futures, with consequences for the province’s gaming economy and regional employment in a sport that once anchored Vancouver’s sporting landscape.