The prize money and incentive structure details announced this week for the 2023/24 season provide a clear blueprint for the future and a telling vote of confidence in Hong Kong racing as we prepare to celebrate FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin on Sunday (30 April).
Hong Kong owners will next season share HK$1.38 billion in prize money for domestic races alone – in contests ranging from Griffins to Class 1 and the Four-Year-Old Classic Series – following an increase of 8% (HK$94 million) on the 2022/23 purse.
These increases do not include prize money for Hong Kong’s Group 1 races, including the seven international Group 1s at LONGINES Hong Kong International Races and FWD Champions Day, as well as Group 2 and Group 3 contests.
The Club will announce prize money details for our Group races in coming days, but we feel it is important to continue to enhance returns to owners across every tier of racing and the latest increases means Hong Kong’s prize money pool has grown by almost 100% over the past 10 years.
Additionally, bonuses for PPs (Privately Purchased Horses) who win their first races in Class 2 or Class 3 will be increased by HK$500,000 to HK$1.5 million next season. Further, the attractive existing bonuses for PPGs (Privately Purchased Griffins) and ISGs (International Sale Griffins) or horses bought out of the Hong Kong International Sale remain in place.
The value of these incentives to owners is clear, given the Club has already distributed HK$51 million in bonuses across 63 meetings so far this season.
As we strive to improve the quality of our horse population, even with four of our horses – Golden Sixty, Romantic Warrior, Lucky Sweynesse and California Spangle – among the top six of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, the Club remains committed to strategic investments in prize money and incentives, as well racecourse and training facilities, to provide an attractive value proposition for owners to invest in high-quality horses.
There is no doubt owners face increasing competition to source top quality horses and the Club is acutely aware of the need to help improve the value proposition and returns on investment.
The steady arrival of star overseas horses over the past week is a reminder that we are only just over a week away from FWD Champions day and the staging of three exciting Group 1 contests – the HK$20 million Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m), HK$20 million FWD Champions Mile (1600m) and HK$25 million FWD QEII Cup (2000m).
After COVID-19 last season prevented us from hosting international horses, it is a pleasure to welcome back owners, trainers and jockeys from abroad for what shapes as a spectacular meeting.
At Sha Tin on Sunday the Wan Chai Gap Handicap is Race 10, for Class 2 horses over 1800m at 5.45pm with prizemoney of HK$2,900,000. Last week, we were treated to an exciting contest between emerging sprint stars Victor The Winner and Howdeepisyourlove. This week, exciting middle-distance talents Sword Point, Alacrity, Sweet Encounter and Straight Arron provide an exciting climax to an excellent day of racing.
The speed in the race will be good with natural leader Champion Dragon taking up the running from his inside gate. Looking Great has drawn immediately outside Champion Dragon and should find the rail behind the leader, with Bourbonaire also handy to the speed.
Sword Point ran through all three legs of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, finishing runner-up in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) when going forward from a wide gate and then wasn’t far from the winner, Voyage Bubble, when sixth in the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m). He returns here with a perfect draw and is a win and place chance for Hugh Bowman.
Alacrity was a Group 1 winner over 2000m in Chile and showed promise at his first two runs here when drawn wide, going back and running home strongly. He delivered on that promise at his last start when easily beating Young Brilliant over this trip on 2 April. Alacrity is an exciting future prospect who will be suited by a solid pace and is also a win and place chance with his light weight and Karis Teetan back aboard.
Straight Arron was impressive winning over 1800m and then stayed on near the rails when fifth in the Derby and is a place chance for Vincent Ho. Bourbonaire ran well last start when third to Spirited Express with Antoine Hamelin on board and the ground and distance should suit him. He is also a place chance.
Butterfield has been a model of consistency without winning and will run well again and Champion Dragon was rewarded for his consistency this season when leading throughout at his last run to beat Running Glory and has claims with an easy lead.
This is a deep race and will potentially lay down a marker for some exciting middle-distance talent for the future.
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