With only two days until the 2025/26 season-opening meeting at Sha Tin on Sunday (7 September), I had the privilege this week of attending traditional Bai Sun ceremonies, which are among the most auspicious occasions in our calendar, at Happy Valley and Sha Tin racecourses as we gear up for the start of the new season.
These time-honoured rituals, performed to bless the horses, jockeys and staff, set a tone of respect and good fortune, and, as we count down to our first meeting of the season, these ceremonies felt particularly potent, a reminder that beneath the excitement of competition lies a rich seam of tradition and community.
This week also saw the unveiling of a game-changing racecourse arrival and customer experience in Grandstand II at Sha Tin Racecourse. Champions Connection and Genso together redefine how visitors arrive, learn about and enjoy Hong Kong racing. Champions Connection acts as the gateway between MTR Racecourse Station and Grandstand II, greeting racegoers with digitally rendered thoroughbreds, a Hall of Fame featuring 3D displays of legendary horses and showcases of elite jockeys complete with personalised racing gear.
Mobile sculptures and even a lifelike, full-sized robotic horse create memorable photo moments, while pop-up kiosks and stores selling everything from plushes and racing souvenirs to craft beer and waffles add a lively dimension to the arrival experience.
Linked to Champions Connection, Genso is a pioneering four-storey digital hub offering immersive racing experiences, gamified learning and shareable moments aimed at younger visitors and tourists. Highlights include the Maze Race, which blends racing history with puzzle-solving; the Gensoverse, where XR technology allows guests to take virtual rides on Hong Kong’s legendary horses; and Genso Snap, an AI photo booth designed to create racing-themed selfies for social sharing.
Interactive AI Horse Selection Stations and a Race Simulator generate virtual races and provide fresh, accessible ways for newcomers to engage with form and history, while dining options – ranging from a relaxed food hall to an intimate izakaya – complete the visitor offering.
These enhancements sit within the Club’s long-term Racecourse Master Plan. More than HK$10 billion has already been invested to revitalise Sha Tin and Happy Valley, with a further HK$4 billion planned to transform the racecourses into world-class sport and entertainment centres.
Renovation work at Penfold Park is scheduled to be completed in January 2026, with a new Pony World attraction planned for April to strengthen family-friendly connections to the racecourse precinct. Last season, more than 1.7 million racegoers passed through our gates, including over 195,000 visitors from the Mainland. Initiatives such as Champions Connection and Genso are intended to deepen visitor engagement, grow racing tourism and attract a new generation of fans.
The Owners Carnival at Sha Tin remains a delightful precursor to the season, and this year the event fulfilled that role neatly. The Carnival signalled the imminent start of the campaign and provided a final, reassuring glimpse of Ka Ying Rising in his final pre-season preparation, when he produced a smooth, confident barrier trial. That run was precisely the assurance connections and fans wanted to see ahead of opening day. The Carnival provided lighter moments too, including the ever-popular Jockeys Sprint – won this year by James Orman and Derek Leung. It was a warm, communal start to the campaign.
We also enjoyed a special cultural moment last week when Ariel Tsang was unveiled as the newest member of global pop phenomenon Now United. Congratulations to Ariel, and I want to thank Aaron Kwok for his mentorship, Simon Fuller and XIX Entertainment for leading the initiative and everyone at the Club who helped bring the idea to life. Ariel is Now United’s first member from Hong Kong, China, and her selection – earned through open auditions, intensive bootcamps and world-class training – showcases the depth of local talent and our ability to bridge cultures on the world stage.
Finally, I was reminded of Hong Kong’s creative energy when I visited Tai Kwun’s summer exhibition, Undercover Underworld. The exhibition brings the city’s cinematic fascination with the undercover genre to life, combining interactive installations, priceless memorabilia and reflections from filmmakers and real-life officers. It is a compelling reminder that the same spirit of dedication, storytelling and innovation we admire in our racing community also runs through Hong Kong’s arts and entertainment scenes.
With traditions observed, new venues ready and our horses and riders preparing to perform, the excitement for opening day on 7 September is building. We look forward to welcoming racegoers back to Sha Tin and Happy Valley for another season of thrilling sport, memorable moments and new stories that will carry Hong Kong’s talent to the world stage. Like many racing fans, I am eager to see Ka Ying Rising, the world’s best sprinter, light up the track once more before heading to Australia to take on elite international rivals in The Everest.
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