HKJC CEO Blog

On Friday, before flying out to Sydney to attend Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney to have discussion about a potential expansion of the World Pool from races in Victoria – where we saw a tremendous start at the Black Caviar Lightning Raceday at the end of the Asian Racing Conference in…

I had the opportunity this week to visit Conghua Racecourse with the Club’s Board of Stewards and it was a privilege to express my sincere thanks to the staff members who have made great personal sacrifices to help keep our operations going during COVID-19.  Conghua is a world-class facility, providing our Sha Tin-based trainers with…

The importance to Hong Kong of international sport was starkly underlined at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when many of the great events that defined this city were unable to be staged because of the virus. Hong Kong horseracing was able to continue, due to the stringent health and safety measures employed to protect…

As we approach the fourth quarter of the 2022/23 season, and as international racing continues to provide wonderful entertainment across the globe, the entry for our Easter Sunday meeting on 9 April is a timely reminder that FWD Champions Day is looming rapidly.  Nominations for the G2 Sprint Cup (1200m) feature Lucky Sweynesse – Hong…

Dubai World Cup Day lived up to expectations with a meeting of the highest standards at Meydan Racecourse overnight, proving once again that international competition is the ultimate in any sport.  Japan’s quality shone with victories by the outstanding Equinox in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m), Derma Sotogake, who led home a Japanese 1-2-3-4…

And so, barely a week after another epic BMW Hong Kong Derby finish, our focus switches to the international stage with Group 1 contests spread across three countries this weekend.  With just over a month to FWD Champions Day, the first of our simulcast races this weekend comes from Rosehill Racecourse in Sydney with the…

Overcoming formidable circumstances, Voyage Bubble delivered a victory for true believers with his courageous 2023 BMW Hong Kong Derby for Ricky Yiu and Alexis Badel at Sha Tin on Sunday (19 March).  When reflecting on winning Derby rides over the years, there is often a focus on ground-saving perfection; From the moment Voyage Bubble -…

Spanning more than 150 years since it was first run, the BMW Hong Kong Derby retains a special place among Hong Kong’s racing community.  Steeped in history from its first running at Happy Valley in 1873, the BMW Hong Kong Derby has been run over a variety of distances, ranging from 1800m to 2400m, before…

After months of meticulous planning, final preparations for the $24 million Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin this Sunday (19 March) are well and truly underway for the race revered in this city for its ‘Once in a lifetime glory.’ The BMW Hong Kong Derby is the race every owner in Hong Kong strives…

The pursuit of excellence is at the core of all Hong Kong Jockey Club operations and the decision of the Club’s Licensing Committee to announce Mark Newnham as a new trainer for the start of the 2023/24 season is an example of our mindset. At 55, Mark brings considerable experience and expertise after a long…