| Thoroughbred horse racing in Hong Kong is a pivotal | | | | international event in the racing world and the main |
| part not only of many lives but it is vital to the | | | | meeting point for northern and southern hemisphere |
| economy, contributing massive taxes and being the | | | | thoroughbreds. |
| major supporter of most charities. Thoroughbred | | | | Today the international event has been transformed |
| racing in Hong Kong is therefore naturally followed far | | | | into a set of four races: the Hong Kong International |
| more passionately than anywhere else in the world. | | | | Sprint over 1200m, the Hong Kong Mile over 1600m, |
| Hong Kong has two race courses, the main one | | | | the Hong Kong Cup over 2000m and the Hong Kong |
| situated at Shatin is a first class track with facilities | | | | Vase over 2400m. |
| equal to any track in the world. A big track with both | | | | The Champions Mile is on April 29, run at 1600 meters |
| turf and dirt surfaces and a straight 1200m, statistics | | | | over the Shatin turf course and is already part of an |
| show that horses get every chance to win from | | | | international racing series, the Asian Mile Challenge, |
| whatever draw. | | | | which comprises the Futurity in Australia, the Dubai |
| However Happy Valley where the lesser grade | | | | Duty Free, the Champions Mile, and the Yasuda Kinen |
| Wednesday night races are held has to be the most | | | | in Japan, all Group 1 races. |
| spectacular race track in existence. To understand the | | | | The standard of local thoroughbreds has also risen |
| full impact of this place you need to make the effort to | | | | dramatically as can be seen by the number of hotly |
| go and experience it. | | | | contested international races now taken out by locals |
| Situated on the island amidst major housing and retail | | | | even in the presence of top echelon European, |
| complexes, Happy Valley is surrounded by the lights of | | | | American, Japanese and Australian thoroughbreds. |
| multi level apartment blocks. It is a relatively small track | | | | With a population of around 1,100 thoroughbreds from |
| which affords spectators a close up view of the | | | | around the globe, Hong Kong racing works under an |
| races giving an "I can not believe this place" feel to | | | | easy to understand handicap system, where gallopers |
| visitors. | | | | gain or lose rating points from their performance on |
| Tourists can also visit the Hong Kong Racing Museum | | | | the racecourse, resulting in close and competitive |
| at Happy Valley, which provides a fascinating historical | | | | racing. |
| insight into how the sport has evolved since its mid-19th | | | | The Hong Kong Jockey Club has a monopoly on |
| century beginnings. | | | | racing and betting in the territory, a holdover from |
| Over the last 15 years or so the quality of Hong Kong | | | | colonial days, and the HKJC is the territories largest |
| thoroughbred racing has developed substantially and | | | | taxpayer and charity. Massive betting pools are |
| nowadays it is difficult to imagine a more cosmopolitan | | | | involved and Hong Kong racing officials understand |
| racing circuit than can be experienced here. The prize | | | | that it is imperative to share every piece of information |
| money is so substantial that the champion riders and | | | | there is with the betting public. |
| trainers from France, England, Australia and South | | | | The racing club website has easily the best information |
| Africa all eagerly vie for the few invitations to ride in | | | | I have ever seen with full videos and extensive |
| Hong Kong. In fact the roster of riders in Hong Kong | | | | reporting of every race held. Trackwork data, |
| reads like an Academy Award nomination list for the | | | | performance history, weights carried, times, everything |
| best jockeys in the world. | | | | is easily found and exhaustively detailed. |
| Fourteen Group 1 races are run in Hong Kong each | | | | To summarize, for any thoroughbred racing enthusiast |
| season, with the Hong Kong International Race day in | | | | Hong Kong racing is an absolute must see experience. |
| December being the richest and most important | | | | Hotels are plentiful and first class and the shopping and |
| meeting of the year. The Hong Kong International | | | | gastronomic delights are legendary. |
| Races are now generally recognized to be the most | | | | |