International Racing News

Hong Kong

Standard Information

Racing Days: 2 nights per week (usually Wednesday nights and Sunday afternoons)
Time Difference: -3 hours AEDT -2 Hours AEST
Racing Start Times: 9pm Wednesdays & 2.30pm Sundays
Codes: Thoroughbreds only

Fast Facts

Approximately 25 minutes before the race, the trainer will bring the jockey's saddle and gear down to the stall. The stable assistant helps the trainer put the saddle on correctly. If the horse is wearing additional gear, the trainer will check that the right gear is fitted.
The horse is lead into the Parade Ring using a lead for safety and must be paraded in the correct race book order. Once in the Parade Ring, horses should be walked in a clockwise direction and kept at least two horse lengths from the horse in front.
The horse is always held steady while the jockey is legged on and sitting securely in the saddle. In most cases horses do not need to be led, and the jockey rides the horse out to the barrier. On going to the barrier every horse must be ridden in front of the stand unless otherwise directed by the stewards. At the barrier the attendants will assist the jockey and horse into the correct barrier position.
There are total 83 race meetings in one season. On average, 2 race meetings take place weekly. Generally, a night meeting will be held on Wednesday and a day meeting will be held on either Saturday or Sunday plus public holidays.
Shatin races on both Turf and All Weather Track whilst Happy Valley races on Turf only.
The racing season in Hong Kong is normally between September and mid of July.
The Top races in Hong Kong areThe Hong Kong Cup, The Hong Kong Vase, The Hong Kong Mile, The Hong Kong Sprint, Audemars Piguet QEII Cup, Champions Mile.
Flat races are the only type of racing in Hong Kong, unlike overseas where steeple and hurdle races may also be conducted.
In Hong Kong there are three types of races, sprint, middle distance (mile) and staying races. The length of the race determines the type of race, requiring specific conditioning and training preparation. A sprint race is generally a distance of 1000, 1100, 1200 or 1400 meters. A middle distance race is usually 1500 meters to 2000 metres and a staying race is a distance beyond 2000 meters up to 3200 meters.

Racing History

Brought in by the British, this thrilling sport has been transformed into a local culture and a world-class entertainment.
It all started in 1845 when the Happy Valley Racecourse was built and less than a year's time, the first horse race took place on 17th December 1846.
In 1873, the first Hong Kong Derby was run, replicating one of Britains most famous classic races. As the sport became more popular, the Hong Kong Jockey Club was established in 1884 to formalize the administration of the territory's racing. The Club then appointed its first Secretary and opened office in Central in 1907.
In the early years, Club membership was open exclusively to Colonial Europeans in Hong Kong. It was not until 1926 that Chinese members were made eligible.
When Japan surrendered in 1945, the Hong Kong Jockey Club regained control of the sport in Hong Kong and the first formal post-war race was run in 1946.
To cope with the fast-growing need, the Hong Kong Jockey Club turned fully professional in 1971 and the second racecourse was constructed at Sha Tin in 1978.
From the 1980s onwards, rapid upgrading of the racecourses and other supporting facilities has continued to enhance the quality of the sport. The telephone betting system and off-course betting branches throughout the city were fully computerised.
In the 1990s all stables were moved to Sha Tin Racecourse, which has subsequently been equipped with the world's first parade ring covered by a retractable roof and a Diamond Vision television screen that set a Guinness World Record when built.
With its renowned experience in horse racing management and organization, the Hong Kong Jockey Club was chosen to co-organize the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games Equestrian Events.
Today both horse racing standards and purses in Hong Kong are among the highest in the world. Horses trained in Hong Kong regularly compete in international races abroad and have won various titles.
With the highest racing revenue turnover in the world, it is not surprising that top owners and riders find racing in Hong Kong irresistible, and an exceptional multicultural experience that must be savoured.