- The City of Surrey recently announced the permanent closure of the Fraser Downs horse racetrack, citing plans to develop housing, a hospital, and new public spaces on the land.
- The decision aligns with the VHS’s call for an end to horse racing at Vancouver’s Hastings Racecourse, where at least 14 horses have died since 2023.
- A recent VHS report shared with the City of Vancouver in June outlines the high racing-related fatality rate and the long-term decline in attendance and revenue at Vancouver’s Hastings Racecourse.
- The report recommends ending horse racing at Hastings Park when the current Operating Agreement expires in 2026.
SIGN THE PETITION: Urge the City of Vancouver to follow Surrey’s lead and end horse racing at Vancouver’s Hastings Racecourse.
Report: Considerations for the discontinuation of horse racing at Hastings Park
The hidden cost of horse racing at Hastings
Deaths at Vancouver racecourse
Hastings Racecourse has seen a concerning pattern of horse deaths, including eight in 2023, four in 2024, and at least two between April and June 2025. In 2024, the rate of horse deaths at Hastings was 1.78 per 1,000 starts—much higher than the industry average of 1.11 and nearly double that of tracks under stricter safety rules (0.90).
Early start, lifelong harm
Most horses start training and/or racing at just 2 years old, before their bones are fully developed. This puts them at high risk for serious injuries and early decline. Thoroughbred horses are often overbred for speed rather than skeletal strength, making their legs susceptible to fatal injury.
Painful & stressful practices
Horses often endure harsh training methods and uncomfortable equipment, like whips and tight mouth bits, that can cause stress and pain.