I was delighted to see how much the delegation of Chinese Olympic athletes enjoyed their visit to the races at Happy Valley last Wednesday. I explained to them how a race meeting was operated and the intense training that racehorses as well as riders have to undergo. Their enthusiasm and appreciation for the sport of horse racing impressed me a lot.
Hong Kong's co-hosting of the Olympic equestrian events last summer has aroused much higher awareness of equine sports in the local community. I'm especially encouraged to see that Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Team has been nominated as a candidate for the Hong Kong Sports Stars Awards 2008, reflecting the high recognition it has earned among the local sporting sector and the general public.
Our three local riders Kenneth Cheng, Patrick Lam and Samantha Lam were the first-ever Hong Kong equestrian team to compete in the Olympics, and I'm sure many of you well remember their fine performances at our equestrian venue in Sha Tin. No matter whether or not they eventually receive one of the Sports Stars Awards, their nomination alone has already given the team further motivation and augurs well for the future development of equestrian sport in Hong Kong.
Horse racing is, of course, another form of equine sport, and I have always felt puzzled as to why it is not more widely looked on as a sport in Hong Kong. Given the intense training that every jockey has to undergo, the fitness they need to maintain, and the superb techniques and critical judgment they demonstrate during races, I can honestly say that the skills and professionalism of our riders are fully comparable to those of athletes in other sports. It is most unfair not to view horse racing as a sport simply because of its linkage with betting. So in this New Year, it's one of my wishes that more people in our local community can change their perception of horse racing, and better appreciate the high skill levels involved in this historic sport.
The recent outstanding performances of our home-grown apprentice jockeys – Derek Leung, Keith Yeung, Matthew Chadwick and Ben So – is proof in the flesh to all racing fans of their dedication to the sport of horse racing, and their determination to give their very best in each contest. Although it's important to emphasise that these young lads are still on their "learning curve" and have a long way to go to become top-quality jockeys, there is no doubt that your support, appreciation and recognition are fuel to them in their pursuit of a successful career. So I hope these "rising stars" will have a chance to be nominated for the Sports Stars Awards themselves one day.
Today at Sha Tin Racecourse, we will have 10 races on our card. I will be paying special attention to the performances of Grand Dragon and Kildare. Grand Dragon is an up and coming three-year-old from the Fownes’s yard. He won impressively last time over 1200M and delivered a great turn of foot in the straight, finishing the last section in 22.41s. Let’s see if he can repeat this decent performance in the 1400M race this afternoon.
In the Chow Tai Fook Bauhinia Sprint Trophy, I will be expecting another decent performance from Kildare though it’s the first time he competes in a Group race in Hong Kong. Kildare is a fast-improving specialist on the 1000M straight course and I won’t be surprised if he can finish in the first two in this HK Group 3 race.
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