HKJC CEO Blog

One of horse racing’s greatest and most enduring strengths is international competition. Whether it is Sha Tin, ParisLongchamp, Flemington, Epsom Downs, Tokyo, Dubai, Arlington or Royal Ascot, there is a clear appetite among customers all around the world to watch the best of the best compete for the sport’s most prestigious races. Royal Ascot delivered…

Royal Ascot has commanded international racing’s centre stage over the past four days and with the return of unrestricted crowds, superb weather and champion horses, the meeting has delivered on every front.  The Group 1-winning feats of Nature Strip, Baaeed, Coroebus, State Of Rest, Kyprios, Perfect Power and Inspiral have been celebrated not just at…

Royal Ascot is one of international racing’s most iconic meetings and on Tuesday it duly lived up to its billing with a wonderful day’s racing crowned by supreme performances from Nature Strip and Baaeed. Nature Strip, who was already rated the world’s best sprinter in the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, demonstrated his superiority with…

Creating career pathways has long been at the heart of Hong Kong Jockey Club values. Regardless of age, gender and background, the Club has constantly sought to identify, cultivate and enhance potential. With that in mind, the elevation on Friday of Pierre Ng to a full training licence for the 2022/23 season is another example…

Since its inception in 2019, the World Pool has continued to flourish and last weekend’s running of the Oaks and Derby at Epsom underlined its growing popularity with record-breaking turnover on both Classics.  Before Desert Crown’s stunning Derby victory on Saturday, record turnover for a single World Pool race was in last year’s Epsom Derby…

Hong Kong’s status as a global leader in thoroughbred racing is built on several factors – integrity, quality of horses, trainers and jockeys, the support and passion of Hong Kong’s owners and the enthusiasm of racing fans both locally and across the world.  For the past 50 years, the Apprentice Jockeys’ School (AJS) has played…

Lester Piggott’s passing at the weekend triggered a deserved flood of tributes, delivering a reminder of the towering stature of a man who influenced racing on a global scale, including Hong Kong.  Very few athletes are recognised around the world simply by their first name. Lester was one of them. It is truly remarkable to…

It is a measure of John Size’s enduring excellence that, over the past 20 seasons, only a handful of fellow trainers have beaten the 11-time champion horseman for the Hong Kong trainers’ championship.  Caspar Fownes (four times), John Moore (twice), Tony Cruz (once), Dennis Yip (once) and Ricky Yiu (once) are part of an exclusive…

Douglas Whyte’s reputation as a master tactician was well founded in a wonderful riding career crowned by an unmatched 13 successive Hong Kong champion jockey titles and a record 1,813 wins in the saddle.  Douglas’ ability to be in the right place at the right time was a recurring theme during his riding days and…

Regarded an elite staying test, the HK$12 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday serves as the appropriate bookend to our Group 1 season in Hong Kong.  The race has been won by several great champions over the years, notably Viva Pataca, River Verdon, Exultant, Vengeance Of Rain…