Wednesday at Happy Valley marks the fourth race meeting since we introduced special measures in response to coronavirus and the situation is evolving daily as valuable new information is received.
With that in mind, I would like to start with an apology that all our Off-Course Betting Branches are now closed for business until further notice.
A significant number of our very loyal customers use our OCBB’s as their major channel to participate in Hong Kong racing and we have to acknowledge that this will cause significant inconvenience and dissatisfaction.
However, we felt this decision was necessary to further strengthen our already stringent precautionary measures because, in our risk assessment, one trigger was the first case of a likely local transmission of the coronavirus from human to human.
The second trigger was the government’s announcement that the next two weeks will be critical in terms of containing the disease.
Further measures are designed to prevent a community outbreak and the government is also asking companies to help avoid a congregation of crowds during this critical period.
We have not closed Happy Valley this Wednesday for customers with prior bookings in our 40 restaurants and boxes, but we will further review measures for coming race meetings, starting from Saturday, with the likelihood of further reductions in on-site participation.
We felt that we currently still can hold race meetings to provide entertainment for around a million customers who have a betting account and in total already 75 percent of all our bets are placed online.
To further improve our customer service we have, in addition to our other fund transfer services, introduced a new service called FPS to make the deposit of funds even more convenient.
Customers with a betting account and a nominated bank account can immediately set up FPS Instant funds transfer service via our mobile app or eWin online. For enquiries on funds transfer, please call 1818. You can also check related information via the weblink – https://is.hkjc.com/fund_transfer_mobile/en/index.html
To protect the interests of holders of unclaimed tickets (valid for 60 days) or cash vouchers (valid for 180 days) during this period, the Club will extend the validities of the tickets and cash vouchers until further notice. Holders of affected tickets or cash vouchers entitled to dividends and cash voucher value may email the Club at customer.care@hkjc.com or call 1817 and provide the required details to register.
The Jockey Club Headquarters has been running quietly but efficiently over the last few days and, if nothing else, times like this remind us of racing’s ability to act as a welcome distraction.
Sunday’s Sha Tin action certainly worked well in that regard. Joao Moreira dominated early on with a four timer and it’s remarkable to think that he has now partnered at least four winners in a day 52 times in his Hong Kong career.
Alexis Badel showed what an asset he has become by riding his third treble since Christmas and Grant van Niekerk’s fine second season here continued with a double and a possible Derby contender based on Butterfield’s exciting win in the finale. Butterfield was a multiple G1 winner in his native Brazil and his cosmopolitan background will add another welcome splash of colour to the Derby picture.
Wednesday’s Sports Road Handicap (section 2) in Race 6 is the first of three consecutive Class 3 contests to close out the evening and will be run over 1200m. Speed Vision, G Unit and Very Rich Man will push forward to set a good pace with Baby and Relentless Me in close attendance.
E Star comes off a good effort in his last start at Sha Tin where he ran up against a pair of progressive horses and finished a closing fourth. He has maintained his good form since moving up in class earlier this season and is a win and place chance if jockey Matthew Poon can work out a trip. There is a danger of being trapped wide in the way this race sets up.
California Turbo benefitted from a fast pace in his last start and closed off well to make the frame. He is a recent winner over the course, class and distance and should get a good run from midfield. He is also a win and place chance.
G Unit steps up in trip for only his second try over 1200m and first this season. He has good speed and his good draw ensures that he will be in the mix from the outset, He is a place chance along with Special Stars, who has form figures of 1, 2, 1 when drawing the inside gate.
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