Despite rainfall in excess of 250 millimetres, or nearly 10 inches, during the week, Sunday's FWD Champions Day meeting came off without a hitch, as local horses took home the lion's share of the HK$72 million on offer.
“They did an extraordinary job, with these types of weather conditions, the ground was extremely fair and it enabled all the horses to participate,” HKJC CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said of the track maintenance team. “Nobody could believe that with over 250mm of rain how well our track performed and provided fair going on which to compete.
“To have three Hong Kong winners in the international races is something is that is very satisfying and a great achievement especially when you consider we have a population of 1,200 horses and to be able to compete and succeed on the international stage shows the determination of the Club and our owners and that should make Hong Kong proud.”
Engelbrecht-Bresges said that among Sunday's attendees were over 5,100 from Mainland China, a number he deemed 'exceptional.'
Despite lower attendance figures and the impact of wet conditions, turnover for the meeting was HK$1.56 billion (£159.1 million/US$198.9 million), fractionally lower than 2023, according to South China Morning Post.
The Club also announced that prize money for three of its Group 1 races would increase for next season. The G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile goes from HK$32 million to HK$36 million, the Longines Hong Kong Cup gets a HK$4-million boost to HK$40 million and the 2025 Champions Mile will be run for HK$24 million, up from HK$22 million.
“The prize money increases demonstrate the Club's commitment to adequately rewarding both the Hong Kong and international owners vying for success in three of our top races,” said Andrew Harding, executive director of racing for the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
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