HKJC CEO Blog

Although an amber rainstorm hit Hong Kong on Sunday morning, it didn’t deter the thousands of race fans who flocked to Sha Tin racecourse for our Season Opening. In fact, more than 74,000 people were trackside to ring in the 2018/19 season, the second-highest attendance figure for the first meeting of the season in over…

All of us at the Hong Kong Jockey Club are gearing up for our season to commence tomorrow. First, though, on Thursday, the Club held its Annual General Meeting, with Anthony Chow succeeding Dr Simon Ip as the Club Chairman. The Club enjoyed immense success under Dr Ip’s chairmanship, when he oversaw the crucial final…

On Tuesday, we entered a prosperous new era for the sport of horse racing in Hong Kong and for relations between Hong Kong and Guangdong with the official opening of Conghua Racecourse, the first world-class racecourse and thoroughbred training centre in the Mainland. It is the culmination of years of work from many of us…

Ahead of Sunday’s Season Opening, I attended the Club’s Pre-season Carnival at Sha Tin Racecourse last Saturday. Apart from many Owners, Members and racing fans who were trackside throughout the day, I also met with many trainers and jockeys too, as well as watching the first turf barrier trials of the season. Most of them…

It’s great to be back with a new blog ahead of the start of the new season, with a big couple of weeks ahead, including the official opening of the Conghua Training Centre. This week, I was in Europe attending two important racing-related events in Ireland and France. First I went to the Irish capital…

Last night, we hosted the Champion Awards Ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton, presenting multiple awards to honour our top horses of the season, those who produced outstanding performances in our major races over the last 12 months. The Judging Panel faced a number of tough decisions. Some of the categories were very hotly-contested, especially in the…

First, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for the caring and kind words that many of you have sent to me over the past week. Your thoughts have helped my family and I overcome such a difficult period after my father’s passing. It was a terrific day of racing for one and all…

It is with great sadness that the Club has learned of the passing away of the father of Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of the Club. Everyone in the Club offers their sincerest condolences to Winfried and his family at this difficult time. The CEO Blog will resume next week.

Earlier this week, our newest trainer Jimmy Ting was formally introduced to the media at Sha Tin. Jimmy has been a noteworthy participant in Hong Kong racing for three decades, starting as an apprentice jockey in 1988. Upon his retirement from the saddle in 2003, he began as an assistant trainer, and now, like Frankie…

Exultant and California Whip completed a sweep of G3 features for trainer Tony Cruz with their respective wins in the Premier Plate and Premier Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday. I believe many racing fans were even more delighted to learn about the excellent performance of Werther in the Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin that same…