Earlier this week, a number of our overseas racing counterparts gathered at Belmont Park in New York to attend an international racing summit focused on the raceday medication of horses. Our Executive Director of Racing William A Nader was among the participants. The discussions have since attracted a lot of international coverage in the mainstream and racing media, in particular on the controversial issue of Lasix.
Lasix is a medication that helps prevent racehorses from bleeding. As it has been demonstrated to enhance a horse’s performance, most international racing jurisdictions have restricted its application on racedays, and in Hong Kong we've banned its use altogether. But in the US, the majority of racing clubs and associations impose no such restrictions, and it's widely applied to horses on racedays. Most overseas representatives in the summit raised their concern about this issue, and called for the American racing industry to fall into line with international practices.
A key point made was the American racing industry is damaging its own long-term interests by allowing the use of Lasix, especially its bloodstock industry.
Many international horse breeders are becoming sceptical as to whether the track-records of illustrious US sires are really as good as they appear, or have been helped along by Lasix, and they also worry that the gene pool may eventually become weakened by over-medication.
As a result, European bloodstock buyers have been less active in US yearling sales in recent years. The number of foals offered has fallen by nearly 20% in the past three years and auction prices by nearly 50%. The number of races run, prize money and turnover are also currently on a declining trend.
Personally, from a race organiser's perspective, I do hope that the US will rethink this issue, to avoid the possibility of their racing industry getting further isolated from the rest of the world. They should instead be doing all they can to get better connected, by enacting policies and measures that encourage their horsemen to participate actively in global racing. That's how we've been able to strengthen Hong Kong's reputation in international racing over recent years.
Incidentally, the rules we impose on the use of Lasix are not just designed to prevent artificially enhanced performances - it's a matter of concern for the horses' long-term health.
Anyway, moving on to a happier subject, we've just announced the details of this year's Most Popular Horse and Most Popular Jockey of the Year awards, so now's the time to vote for your favourites. Taking note of the strongly growing interest in our overseas simulcasts this season, we've also introduced a new category, “Most Admired Overseas Horse of the Year”. And as well as selecting from a shortlist for each of these awards, you will be able to add your own nominee this year by filling in the horse or jockey’s name in the “others” column if you prefer.
Apart from helping your favourites horses and jockeys to win the award, you can earn yourselves the chance to win some very attractive prizes by voting, including a plasma TV, smartphone or digital camera. So do make sure you cast your votes before the campaign closes at the end of this month. You can vote by phone, through our website or in person at our racecourses and Off-Course Betting branches.
Tomorrow at Sha Tin we will be staging our last pattern race of the season, the HKG3 Prince Jewellery & Watch Premier Cup. Some of the season’s group performers such as Able One, Sunny King and Multiglory will feature in this 1400m race, so it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.
This race is likely to be run at a good pace which provides a level playing field for all horses from the pace perspective. However, the C+3 course at this time of the year may give horses on the pace a little advantage. With Multiglory leading and Leading City going forward, this will give an advantage to these two horses. The good pace ensured other horses don't permit him to go slow in the front. It probably will not be enjoyed by Multiglory but with Leading City going to his best distance of 1400m, he has a good chance for a top-three finish. Sichuan Success is a very exciting horse. Coming from the midfield he will be my top pick, especially because after his break he has come back to his best. I expect strong late runs from Able One, but even more from Sunny King and both have decent chance to topple other leading contenders.
The Audemars Piguet Handicap is expected to be run at a slow pace which should favour horses in the front of the field. Helene Witty should benefit from it as he’s the most likely leader. He has to face a strong competitor with Goodview Successor sitting behind him, and I prefer him over Helene Witty as my pick. Hear The Roar should finish strongly as well as Finezza, but both with the expected pace are better top-three choices than winning contenders for me.
Before then, we will simulcast six races from the final day of Royal Ascot tonight, the highlight being the G1 Golden Jubilee Stakes. Some of the runners who took part in the King’s Stand Stakes on Tuesday, including runner-up Star Witness and Kingsgate Native, will be stepping up in distance to compete in this 1200m event, hoping to go one better this time.
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