HKJC CEO Blog

A busy weekend lies ahead, with our final Royal Ascot simulcast followed by a strong card at Sha Tin on Sunday, and this week has already thrown up a series of notable news lines. This has been a very significant week for the Club, with the launch of the first World Pool, and with the…

The weather wasn’t at its kindest but day one of Royal Ascot seldom fails to deliver and yesterday was no exception. As on so many occasions in the past, Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore stole the headlines with a double supplied by Arizona in the Coventry Stakes and Circus Maximus in a thrilling St James’s…

Maximising the international appeal of our great sport has long been an important theme within the HKJC and that desire has been reflected by several key metrics in recent years. Interest in Hong Kong racing from abroad has grown to the extent that commingling often accounts for around 15 per cent of raceday turnover nowadays.…

I am very pleased to report that we have received news that the New Zealand government have given approval for horses that have spent time at our Conghua base to travel to NZ on the same basis as other horses in the Hong Kong population. This means that horses that have been in Conghua are…

Maintaining a high level of competition is essential if any sport is to thrive and the HKJC Licensing Committee took another notable step in that direction on Thursday by announcing that Blake Shinn and Lyle Hewitson will join the Hong Kong jockey roster from the start of next season in September. We wish them both…

June is always the time when the international racing season moves into top gear and this year is proving no exception. Aidan O’Brien continued his remarkable Classic record by landing his seventh Derby win with Anthony Van Dyck at Epsom on Saturday. Almond Eye had her winning streak ended in an eventful Yasuda Kinen, but…

It was our pleasure to host special guests from Bordeaux on our final French-themed night at Happy Valley on Wednesday. Zac Purton produced a vintage ride in the featured Sauternes Cup, making a daring move from the rear on Perfect To Play, while Joao Moreira sealed a four timer with an equally thrilling win from…

So many notable stories have emerged over the last few days both on and off the racecourse. Exultant was clearly the star of a very strong Sha Tin card on Sunday, adding to his Hong Kong Vase success with a typically brave win in the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup. He has achieved something…

This is turning into a busy and significant week both on and off the racecourse. I left the races on Wednesday to go to an IFHA EXCO Meeting in Dublin at which we discussed how we as Racing Authorities and organisers have to address the significant challenges that global racing faces worldwide in light of…

And so we begin another Group 1 week in Hong Kong racing. This Sunday’s Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup brings back vivid memories of some very special horses, from four-time winner River Verdon, three-time winner Viva Pataca and dual winners such as Indigenous, Oriental Express and Blazing Speed. Pakistan Star will be bidding to…