The decision to go ahead to continue racing with the Chinese New Year race meeting was not taken lightly. We have been closely following these developments of the novel Coronavirus and we are all well aware of public concerns over the health risk associated with crowds and the potential impact on the upcoming CNY Raceday.
We have gone through a systematic process including risk assessments as well as consulting medical experts and with public safety concerns in mind the Club has carefully reviewed arrangements for the CNY Raceday. We took into account community views as well as the interests of our customers and employees and we will continue to review the situation.
We are aware that particular Chinese New Year Raceday is a very important part of community life during the Chinese New Year Holidays providing racing and betting entertainment to around one million racing fans.
The cancellation of the Chinese New Year race day would therefore not only impact those who choose to visit the racecourses but all those who stay at home or elsewhere to enjoy the races on TV or via other platforms. Indeed, some 800,000 fans, that is the overwhelming majority, hold a betting account with the club and are able to participate in racing outside the racecourses via online and phone platforms.
In addition, the Chinese New Year race day creates jobs for as many as 11,000 part-time employees and provides additional income for duty racing staff. Any cancellation of the race meeting would therefore have an adverse economic impact on our employees. There would also be impacts on horse owners, trainers and jockeys, who will be unable to race or ride horses.
Considering all of these factors, the club has decided that Chinese New Year race day should go ahead, but with a reduced attendance and with measures in place to strengthen hygiene protection. On the day, apart from essential parties such as horse owners, trainers, jockeys, club officials and stewards etc, only approximately 8,000 customers who already have a prior reservation at racecourse restaurants will be admitted. They will be distributed in 54 restaurants and boxes spread across two Racecourses. Other racecourse facilities such as betting halls, media halls and digital zone will be closed.
According to medical experts, the level of health risk is not higher than visiting restaurants in shopping malls. All customers will receive temperature screening before entry and will be advised to wear medical masks.
In consequence of this arrangement, the number of part-time employees working at the racecourses will be reduced from 11,000 to 3,000. Like all staff working on the day, these will receive temperature screening before entry.
With respect to off-course betting branches (OCBB), to avoid potential overcrowding the club has decided that they will not open for business on Chinese New Year raceday. All Interactive, Telebet and 1886 Telebet Automated services will continue to function as normal.
I would like to express my gratitude to our media partners for communicating our messages to our customers. The above arrangements for racecourses and OCBB’s will continue for all race meetings until further notice. I apologise that these restricted access policies will disappoint some of our very loyal customers but we hope for their understanding that we had to come to this conclusion under the current circumstances. Should any customers have enquiries, please contact us at our hotline at 1817.
The Hong Kong Classic Mile is the featured eighth race of the Chinese New Year race meeting and will prove tactical due to a slow pace. Buddies is the clear leader with Playa Del Puente in close contention but the early sections will be modest.
Francis Lui’s Golden Sixty is likely to be a bit closer than usual but jockey Vincent Ho will wait as long as possible before asking his horse for his best. In his only defeat from eight starts, Golden Sixty pressed a fast pace over 1400 metres and finished 10th.
This is the first attempt at a mile for Golden Sixty but his pedigree, running style and strong closing sectionals give every indication that he is up to the task. He is a win and place chance.
More Than This, who is also trained by Francis Lui, will come from the back as a finisher and Ryan Moore should fit this horse well. He has a proven track record with three wins over 1600m and he has a solid place chance with Ryan aboard as his closing sectional will be very strong.
Both Golden Sixty and More Than This are perfect this season and come into the Classic Mile on the strength of four-race win streaks.
Champion’s Way adds blinkers and comes off a good effort behind Golden Sixty in the G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup on New Year’s Day. He has won a G3 contest over this 1600m and, as he is another who can run strong last sectionals, he should not be underestimated as a place chance.
Beauty Legacy is working well and has further improved his fitness since his promising winning Class 2 debut in Hong Kong. Moreira has chosen him ahead of Champion’s Way and, though his recent win and his G2 win in Australia were over 1400m, he has been placed at G1 level over 1600m.
In addition, his sire Fiorente won the Melbourne Cup and has strong German staying genes, being by Monsun. Beauty Legacy is a horse of considerable promise. The 1600m should not be an issue for him and he is in my view also a win and place chance as the strongest challenger to Golden Sixty.
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