HKJC CEO Blog

Hong Kong’s challenges come in various forms at present and the latest is an outbreak of Wuhan pneumonia which has affected dozens of citizens this week. Episodes such as this are always very worrying and it seems that further detailed tests are ongoing to identify what is believed to be a new coronavirus strain. The…

The road to the BMW Hong Kong Derby is gradually taking shape and, with the big race now just over 10 weeks away, there is precious little margin for error for those with genuine Classic ambitions. A potential Derby winner needs a rare blend of qualities but the skill a trainer needs to ensure a…

A new decade began at Sha Tin on Wednesday and it was appropriate that ringing in the new was a strong theme from start to finish. Safety remains our first priority given the current situation in Hong Kong and it was always our priority to stage a ten-race card (rather than the 11 of last…

The end of an old year and the start of a new one. Assessing what has gone and what is to come is important as 2020 approaches and there is no question that this has been one of the most momentous years in Hong Kong history. If we have learned one thing over the last…

Sha Tin’s final meeting of 2019 this Sunday has a lot to live up to following our Boxing Day fixture at Happy Valley. The party was in full swing and there was much to learn from the action on the track with three of our best young jockeys – namely Alexis Badel, Grant van Niekerk…

And so we come to a special time in the Hong Kong racing calendar, highlighted by Boxing Day at Happy Valley, but the international racing circuit never stops and Japan was in the spotlight again with a memorable renewal of the Arima Kinen. It seems fair to draw several conclusions from Sunday’s big race at…

Jockeys are seldom far from the headlines in Hong Kong and recent weeks have been busy with news of several departures and an imminent arrival. The experienced French rider Tony Piccone is the new recruit after the Club’s Licensing Committee granted him a two-month licence beginning on 1 January. We wish him well as he…

The aftermath of HKIR week always leaves a series of important business decisions to be taken and this year is no exception. One of the most notable this season relates to replacing the Happy Valley meeting cancelled due to concerns about public safety in September. After close consideration, it has been decided that the fixture…

Analysis of every aspect of major events is the key to making them better and the last few days have been spent taking stock of HKIR 2019. First and foremost, there is a lasting sense of pride that we were able to stage one of the world’s great racing festivals at a time when so…

Sunday 8 December will go down as one of the most significant days in Hong Kong racing history. That is a bold statement considering what has gone before but I firmly believe it is true for any number of reasons. The last six months have been extremely challenging for every citizen of Hong Kong and…