It's so unfortunate bad weather has forced us to call off our race meeting at Happy Valley today. I understand that some of you may feel a bit frustrated for having no races this afternoon, while a few others would wonder why we made such an early decision on Saturday night. But I can tell you all that it's a tough decision to make as though the condition of Happy Valley racetrack remains good after the downpours last night, the storm drains beneath the racetrack have all been full.
We have been liaising with the Hong Kong Observatory about the storm and we were told that though the tropical cyclone will be weakened, heavy rain is set to continue on Sunday. In regard to that, we would be accepting high risk if heavy rain were to fall during today's race meeting.
But the Club Stewards and Management believed it would be difficult for us to leave it and wait until this morning in making the final decision, as should there be persistent downpour, it would add risks and danger to all horses transferred from Sha Tin to Happy Valley, and all staff accompanying them when they start the trip as early as 6 o'clock this morning. There is also the issue of safety of thousands of staff members who need to leave home for work very early in the morning, such as stable staff and veterinary personnel. Calling off the meeting hours before the start of races on Sunday would also cause inconvenience to all racing fans.
We have also taken into account the fact that if we insist to carry on the race meeting but we cut the card half way through the day because of the adverse weather, under the existing regulatory framework, there would be no replacement meeting for such abandonment. As we have to bear a high amount of tax guarantee of $8 billion to the government, it will pose considerable financial risk to the Club. This inflexibility has added further constraints to the Club.
But anyway, I hope you all would understand that the decision was not an easy one to make, and we will soon update you all on the date of replacement meeting to be held.
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