Washington & British Columbia Breeders Announce Agreement For Special Days

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Production Team • March 21, 2016

Continuing an enhanced relationship between neighboring tracks, eligibility requirements have been revamped for both the Washington Cup at Emerald Downs and British Columbia Cup at Hastings Racecourse.

Beginning this year, all Xpressbet.com Washington Cup races will be open to WA bred or WA sired horses. Four of the six Washington Cup races will expand eligibility to BC bred or BC sired. Those races include both stakes events for 3-year-olds and both stakes races for older horses, including the $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic.

In turn, Washington-bred or Washington-sired runners are eligible to compete in four of the BC Cup races at Hastings Racecourse, including a pair of August 1 stakes events for 3-year-olds and two October 16 stakes races for older horses.

The agreement continues a strong relationship between Emerald Downs and Hastings Racecourse. Last month the tracks announced a new $25,000 bonus (CDN) for any 3-year-old colt or gelding that sweeps the Emerald Downs Derby and BC Derby or 3-year-old filly that sweeps the Washington Oaks and BC Oaks.

"We have been working with Hastings and their horsemen on a variety of ways to increase participation at both tracks,” said Emerald Downs President Phil Ziegler. “This latest agreement will help both of our breeding programs and our racing fans will be rewarded with bigger fields and more exciting races."

Grant Watson, Executive Director of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society, said regionally bred horses need chances to earn big purses.

“The CTHS is very excited to be working with WTBOA, Emerald Downs and Hastings to improve the quality of home bred races while protecting the integrity of the local breeding industries in both British Columbia and Washington State,” Watson said. “Increasing racing opportunities for owners of these home-bred or sired horses benefits everyone.”

The following stakes are affected:
$50,000 BC Cup Stellar’s Jay, 3YO, 1 1/16 M, Aug 1, Hastings
$50,000 BC Cup Dogwood, 3YOF, 1 1/16 M, Aug 1, Hastings
$50,000 WA Cup 3-Year-Old Stakes, 1M, Aug 28, Emerald Downs
$50,000 WA Cup 3-Year-Old Filly Stakes, 1M, Aug 28, Emerald Downs
$50,000 WA Cup Filly & Mare Stakes, 1 1/16 M, Aug 28, Emerald Downs
$50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic, 1 1/16 M, Aug 28, Emerald Downs
$50,000 BC Cup Distaff, 1 1/8 M, Oct 16, Hastings
$50,000 BC Cup Classic, 1 1/8 M, Oct 16, Hastings

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Not Bourbon (Not Impossible – Bourbon Belle) passed away on December 28, 2025, at the age of 20. Bred and owned by Charles Fipke and trained by Roger Attfield, Not Bourbon was an exceptional racehorse whose accomplishments earned him a place in Canadian racing history. During his career on the track, Not Bourbon captured some of the nation’s most prestigious races, including the Queen’s Plate, Plate Trial, Queenston Stakes, and Overskate Stakes. As a two-year-old, he showed early promise by winning the Bull Page Stakes and setting a track record for six furlongs at Woodbine. Over the course of three racing seasons, Not Bourbon earned more than one million dollars, and his outstanding three-year-old campaign was recognized with a Sovereign Award. Retired to stud, Not Bourbon went on to become a champion sire in Ontario, further cementing his legacy in the breeding shed. In 2020, he relocated to British Columbia, standing his first season at Emerald Acres in Aldergrove, before moving to Flying Horse Farm in West Kelowna, where he continued to make a meaningful contribution to the provincial breeding industry. Not Bourbon will be remembered for his talent as a racehorse and his contributions to breeding in both Ontario and British Columbia.