VANCOUVER — A horse racing tradition in Vancouver for more than 130 years is closing permanently.

Hastings Racecourse and Casino says in a statement that thoroughbred horse racing at the facility in East Vancouver is ending effective immediately.

Wayne Odegard, regional vice-president with the Great Canadian Entertainment, says it was an "extremely difficult decision" to make, especially given the historical legacy of Hastings Racecourse and its importance to B.C.'s horse racing industry.

Odegard says in a statement that it was "strictly a business decision based on a lack of economic feasibility to move forward with another season of horse racing at Hastings."

Media reports this week, including from the CBC and Global News, said that the provincial government was cutting off the compa

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