Hoss Talk

The recent news of the acquisition of Hastings Racecourse by Great Canadian Gaming Corp. and Vancouver businessman Peter Wall sent a sigh of relief to the nearly 6,000 workers employed within the B.C. horse racing industry. The sale has Great Canadian retaining 60 per cent and Wall 40.

Great Canadian is a gaming operator that operates seven casinos, four licenced restaurants and a marina operation in the province and employs more than 2,000 workers. It also operates four gaming faculties in Washington state.

"Anything to do with gaming must go through the British Columbia Lottery Corporation and government, which dictates what will be allowed," says Great Canadian's said Howard Blank.

On Friday, a number of Great Canadian executive staff met with present Hastings management, who left feeling positive.

"They were impressed with what they saw and our plans are to continue to support them as they continue to move forward," said Blank.

Among the many positives to horse racing are the possibilities of teletheatres being added at the various casinos.

This would mean persons not living close to a racetrack would have an opportunity to attend a nearby casino and watch and wager on horse racing, with the wager going into the local mutual racetrack pool, thereby creating larger purses for owners of horse racing in the province.

Wall, a renowned philanthropist, real estate baron and successful horse owner, brings a love for horse racing and a reputation in the community as a first class businessman.

He maintains a large showcase breeding and training farm on the No. 10 Bypass and Glover Road in Langley.

"Peter was an excellent owner and it sure is great to know he will be back in horse racing," said former Exhibition Park trainer Wayne Isbister.

Among the top horses he owned was Missionary Ridge, who won the 1992 Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar racetrack in Southern California.