A racing season like no other. That is the only way to describe the last ten and a half months but, as the lights went out at Happy Valley on Wednesday, the main emotion was one of pride that Hong Kong racing has overcome some of the sternest challenges in its long history.
Full details of the key issues can be found here.
But the purpose of this closing Blog of the 2019/20 season is simply to revisit some significant moments and recognise the dedication of many people who helped racing keep going and, in doing so, fulfil one of its primary roles by acting for the betterment of society as a whole.
The battle against Coronavirus didn’t end with the Season Finale, Vigilance remains essential and, in view of recent developments, all Off-Course Betting Branches will be closed from 19 July until early August.
That will give the Club time to analyse developments – in keeping with our prime focus to protect all staff and customers – but it has been heartening to see how Hong Kong people have pulled together during this long, demanding period.
Creating a ‘Racing Bubble’ that key participants could live and work in was the most vital measure we have implemented. Even one positive test would have jeopardised the whole sport but the bubble we created has remained intact and enabled the stars to shine brilliantly.
Golden Sixty stole the show on day one of racing behind closed doors and went on to sweep the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, while Exultant, Mr Stunning, Beauty Generation, Time Warp and Southern Legend all confirmed their G1 credentials during lockdown.
Zac Purton’s champion mentality shone through in another compelling title battle with Joao Moreira, while Vincent Ho’s continued progress has been wonderful to watch and the fact that Ricky Yiu secured a first trainers’ championship ahead of Tony Cruz and Francis Lui was another testament to the Club’s longstanding plan to develop homegrown talent.
Our Conghua vision paid an excellent dividend with 139 winners trained from our Mainland base; seasonal turnover was remarkably strong in the circumstances: Commingling and Simulcast wagering continue to thrive; and with over HK$12 billion in tax from racing paid to the Government and a significant sum going to a range of charities, the benefits of completing a full season will be felt by millions of people across Hong Kong.
Investing to maintain world-class standards has always been a vital part of the Club’s strategy and, with that in mind total prize money for the 2020/21 season will rise to HK$1.4 billion with notable increases across the board at a time when many other racing jurisdictions are being forced to cut back.
The return of David Hayes for next season is further evidence of our dedication to recruiting world-class talent but it is only fitting that we also pay tribute to the departing John Moore, who has made such a wonderful contribution to Hong Kong racing during his 35 years as a trainer here.
John was rightly recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award in our Champion Awards special presentation function on Thursday night. And on Wednesday night, Club’s Chairman Philip Chen and I also presented souvenirs to John to extend our gratitude.
For those who have missed our live cast Thursday evening, the full one-hour virtual presentation is now available on our website via replay.
Apart from showing our appreciation to our elite gallopers and horsemen, it is also essential to offer our sincere thanks to thousands of people who have made it possible for Hong Kong racing to emerge from a uniquely testing six months stronger than ever.
At every level, the Club’s various teams have gone beyond the call of duty to help us keep racing. Racehorse owners have kept investing and bought into our plans even though that has involved them missing out on several important aspects of the ownership experience. And hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong fans have supported the sport as loyally as ever along with a growing global audience.
Who knows what the 2020/21 season will bring but the agility and knowledge we have gained from the latest campaign means we are well equipped for any new challenges that arise.
For me, it has been an honour to be part of what the Club has achieved in ensuring that racing has kept contributing to society this year. I wish you all a happy and safe summer and look forward to welcoming as many of you as possible back to our racecourses once the time is right.
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