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Vancouver Sun

Hasting Racecourse opens Saturday, while they run for the roses in Kentucky

Article content Article content Hastings, which opened in 1892 and Vancouver's longest continuously used professional sports venue, is celebrating opening day by offering a 'Mystery Wallet' giveaway, with $100 in betting vouchers up for grabs. Arrangements have also been made to pause live racing to allow fans to view the Kentucky Derby live on the track's jumbo screen. Article content Article content More locally, veteran Hastings' trainers Barbara Anderson-Heads and Steve Henson will both be hoping for a repeat of last season when, between them, they sent out more than 80 winners. However, 2025 will be a very different campaign for both barns as they each come to terms with the passing of important owners. Article content Henson goes into the 2025 campaign without his leading owner following the tragic passing of Willow Creek Farms' founder and Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society president, Dairen Edwards. Article content 'Losing Dairen was a huge blow, obviously,' Henson said. 'He was more than an owner and everyone here will feel his loss for some time.' Article content Edwards won't be far from Henson's mind this season as the east Vancouver native goes into battle with last year's leading two-year-old, Mount Doom. The son of leading B.C. stallion Bakken was bought by Edwards and Henson as a yearling and is still owned jointly with WillowCreek Farms — now under the guidance of Edwards' widow, Tia and daughter, Makayla. Article content Article content Article content Article content Also working well this spring are recently-crowned B.C. Horse of the Year Avana and Canadian Derby and B.C. Derby winner, August Rain. The two superstars will again fly the flag for the all-conquering Barbara Anderson-Heads who, last summer, endured the loss of stalwart owner and breeder, Russell 'R.J.' Bennett. Article content Anderson-Heads said: 'Losing 'R.J.' was more than losing an owner. He was family. An amazing man who was a mentor and educator to me. It was obviously a tough and emotional time for everyone, but R.J.'s family are still very much involved and remain unwavering in their support for racing and breeding in B.C.'