It's now been a week since we launched a new version of the Club’s website. Each time you visit the site, I hope you're finding that you get more used to the new layout and design. I've been encouraged to receive so many of your views and comments on the changes through this Blog. Others of you have provided comments through our customer hotline or the special feedback page we've set up on the website.
Whether you have favourable or less favourable views about the changes, all of your suggestions are welcome and valuable to us, as they will help us further improve the website and offer our customers the best possible online services in the future. So do keep your feedback coming.
In fact, we have established a special working group responsible for overseeing any problems encountered by our online customers or other web visitors since the implementation. Their role is to monitor the situation daily, make recommendations in solving problems encountered by our customers, as well as keep constant communication with the web users. We hope this can build stronger bridges with our customers and help minimise any difficulties they face in using our online services.
While some teething problems are inevitable with any change of this scale, I’m pleased to see how smoothly the operation has generally gone during the past few days, especially when we’ve already gone through two race meetings, one weekend football fixtures and four Mark Six draws. A few newly-registered eWin users have told us that the registration process is a bit lengthy, so we are looking at adding some online guidance to make the process clearer. We also believe the new authentication method that will soon replace the existing personal certificate (P-Cert), will give more convenience to our account holders and customers.
Others have complimented us on the site's additional support for Firefox on PCs and Safari on Macs, which makes it more convenient for users of these web browsers and provides more viewing content, such as replays on races and barrier trials. We will continue to work on the need for multi-browser support and look into feasibility of extending our support to iPhone and iPad.
Personally, my feeling is that our new web design offers a more contemporary style, in keeping with other major sports websites such as ESPN and the English Premier League. As regards navigation, it takes customers fewer steps than before to search for specific information. That may not be immediately apparent if you've become used to looking for things from the older version of the web, but once you adapt to the changes, I'm sure you will find it quicker and more convenient to locate all the racing information you need.
Just as we see the Club’s website as a very effective channel for our communications with customers and racing fans, so we believe that our racing partnerships with overseas clubs and jurisdictions help build stronger bonds between Hong Kong and the sport at international level. Tonight at Happy Valley we shall be hosting our French Day race night for the second year running in association with France Galop, an event that coincides with Hong Kong's popular annual French arts and cultural festival, Le French May.
As well as cheering on our two feature races of the night – the France Galop Cup and Le French May Trophy - you will be able to enjoy a great selection of French food and wine treats on course. So please encourage your friends to come along and savour the Gallic atmosphere alongside some great racing at Happy Valley this evening.
Among the eight races on the card, I will be watching how Untouchablelad performs in the Arc de Triomphe Championships Handicap. This three-year-old horse has shown great progress in his recent runs, and he ran a close second at Happy Valley a fortnight ago. Though he’s drawn Gate 9 tonight, I think he will still be difficult to beat. Unique Speed, who was narrowly beaten despite starting from the widest draw in his last start, and the improving young runner Divine Kid, will be two other main contenders in this mile event.
In the Longchamp Racecourse Handicap, Chevalier King has racked up two impressive winners at Happy Valley last month. This in-form runner will be partnered by Eddy Lai tonight and I hope he can maintain his good performance in this 1000m event this evening. However, he still needs to face tough oppositions like Our Pegasus, who have won twice at this distance this season, and Diamond Knight, who will be starting from Gate 1 this evening.
The France Galop Cup is a very open race and I think it should offer plenty of excitement for our racing fans. Always Something produced some fair performances at extended distances in his recent runs. This reliable runner will be returning to the shortest distance and I’ll see if he can emulate his top performances earlier this season. Among other runners, the Douglas Whyte-ridden Friendly Gains, speedy runner Holey Dollar, and reigning CSL Million Challenge winner Loyal Army, are some quality challengers in this 1000m race.
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