Investing for the best

I would like to share with you here a very interesting racing news story I read in midweek. As you all know, thoroughbred horses come in about a dozen common colours, from bay to chestnut and brown to grey. But there's a small number that are pure white in colour, possibly as few as one in every ten thousand. Although this is not enough to provide reliable statistics, experience indicates that they are not generally outstanding runners.

However, a white thoroughbred superstar has recently emerged in Japan by the name of Yukichan. She is a three-year-old filly who counts among only 18 white thoroughbreds ever registered in Japan's stud book. Yukichan sealed her name in that country's racing history this week by becoming the first white thoroughbred to win a graded race in Japan.

Ridden by top jockey Yutaka Take, she was crowned as winner of the Japanese Group Two Kanto Oaks (dirt, 2100m), defeating 13 other fillies of the same age in record time at Kawasaki Racecourse.

This gorgeous filly has now become a new idol and favourite among racing fans in Japan. With her Trainer and Owner setting their eyes on major races this autumn and winter, I hope her success will continue and that she gets the chance to run in the Japan Cup, so that racing fans in Hong Kong can see her in action through our simulcast.

Yukichan is a filly bred in Hokkaido in northern Japan, an area that is home to most of the country's racehorses than any other and has served as the backbone of Japan's racing and breeding industry in recent decades. In contrast, Hong Kong does not have any breeding facilities within its territory, so our racing industry is completely reliant on horses imported from overseas.

It is the staunch support given by our Owners and Trainers in importing quality previously-raced horses and griffins into Hong Kong over the years that has boosted Hong Kong's racing industry to its current success and its leading status in the world of racing. In the past two years, many Owners and Trainers have expressed their concern to me at the surging prices of previously raced horses and yearlings, which means they have been forced to increase their purchasing budgets substantially to acquire horses with good potential.

I can understand their situation, and it's also the Club's aim to continue boosting the quality of horses and races in Hong Kong. That's why the Racing Committee has decided to increase the prize money for domestic races next season, as well as the incentive bonuses given to Privately Purchased horses and International Sale Griffins. I hope these increases will offer Owners and Trainers improved returns on the higher investments they are making, and encourage them to continue recruiting quality overseas imports into Hong Kong.

Only if the Club is able to sustain the quality of its racehorses and racing, and also maintain healthy growth in betting turnover, can it be ensured that our annual contributions to local charities and community projects remain unaffected. 

"Racing for Charity" has always been our commitment to the people of Hong Kong, and in supporting the community we have established a number of long-term partnerships with Government departments, non-government organisations, community groups and other institutions to provide much needed services to different sectors of society. Tomorrow's race meeting at Sha Tin is the 4^th Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Day, an annual occasion that offers an opportunity for the Government and community partners to better understand the Club's role and commitment to the community, and to appreciate the sport of racing. I look forward a lot to participating in this meaningful event.