Monthly Archives: 09/2021

Approaching the eighth meeting of the season – National Day Raceday at Sha Tin on Friday (1 October) – it is already apparent the green shoots of the future are starting to bud with the emergence of several exciting young talents.  The retirement last season of Beauty Generation and Exultant marked not only the departure…

There is an unmistakable sense of excitement ahead of Sunday’s renewal of the G3 Celebration Cup, for reasons as much to do with the past as the future.  A cursory scan of the race’s honour roll leaves nobody in any doubt as to the quality of horse required to triumph against decorated opposition early in…

The overall strength of any organisation rests on the quality and commitment of its people and the Hong Kong Jockey Club is no different.   Indeed, the Club is fortunate to be blessed with a racing cohort comprised of world-class trainers and jockeys – expatriates and locals – veterinarians, integrity officials and farriers, among many others.  …

The joy of winning never fades, not even for John Size, Caspar Fownes, Joao Moreira or Zac Purton, so it was hardly surprising to witness the sheer jubilation charging through Luke Ferraris on Wednesday night (15 September) at Happy Valley.  Luke not only posted his first winner on Go Ballistic with a wonderful tactical display,…

One of sport’s most enduring adages – success comes to those who work for it – speaks to the value of resilience and persistence and, for as long as I can remember, Hong Kong racing has provided countless examples of it. Whether it involves trainers or jockeys, achievement is rarely a coincidence. Those who toil…

On a personal note, I was humbled and honoured to be elected Chairman of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities this week. I would like to pay tribute to the founding Chairman Louis Romanet for his outstanding and sustained contribution to our sport over the past 27 years.  I wish Louis all the best for…

The sheer excitement of attending the races on the first day of a new season never ages and, with one of our largest crowds at Sha Tin since the start of the pandemic, Hong Kong racing shone as brightly as ever on Sunday. With close to 18,000 customers in attendance at the season-opener, turnover of…

And so, the stage is set. The 2021/22 Hong Kong racing season is finally upon us and I am excited that we can have a sizeable crowd back at Sha Tin on Sunday for the long-awaited resumption. Based on bookings so far, we are expecting a crowd of around 20,000 customers, an excellent number given the crowd quota…