A fresh horse incentive program has been introduced at Hastings Racecourse, designed to increase the horse population. The following are the rules and eligibility criteria for 2016:

• Up to $1,000 will be paid to cover actual shipping costs.

• An additional $3,000 will be paid to the horse owner after the first start at Hastings Racecourse, providing the owner has made a commitment to race the horse at Hastings only until the end of the season and has agreed to leave the horses’ papers in the race office for the duration of the 2016 season.

• All horses must have started for $5,000 or more in their last three starts to qualify. If a horse has not started three times, then all of its lifetime starts must be for $5,000 or more and horses must have started at least once in 2016 at a racetrack other than Hastings.

• Horses that have trained or raced at Hastings at any time prior to April 17, 2016 are not eligible.

• Horses must have made their last 3 starts at a track outside of British Columbia, Washington or Oregon to be eligible for this program. If a horse has not started 3 times, all its starts must be outside of British Columbia, Washington or Oregon.

• Stakes horses are excluded from this program. Allowance horses are eligible.

• Horses that have never started are not eligible.

• A horse must be on the grounds no later than August 1, 2016 to be eligible.

• Application must be made to the Racing Secretary upon arrival at Hastings Racecourse to establish eligibility.

• This Program does not extend beyond the 2016 racing season at Hastings Racecourse.