The 2023 Longines Hong Kong International Races have been hailed by Hong Kong Jockey Club chief executive officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges as “one of the best” that the Hong Kong Jockey Club has hosted since he started with the club 25 years ago.
A commingling turnover record was set for the 10-race Sha Tin meeting of HK$429.6 million (£43,846,126/€51,090,128/$55,018,239), with a crowd of 65,252 on hand at Sha Tin. That was the largest attendance number recorded at the HKIR since 2019. In addition, turnover at the meeting was HK$1.697 billion (£173,200,365/€201,815,520/$217,332,291).
“In my humble opinion, I've been here now for 25 years and this was one of the best–if not the best–days of racing we have had in Hong Kong,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said.
“If I look at the situation after Covid, after we had last year already a good meeting, but today Hong Kong racing has established [itself] again on the global stage and has shown what sporting entertainment means.
“I would like especially to thank the connections, because this would not be possible without the tremendous support from horsemen around the world.
“We have a team dedicated to excellence and that makes the Jockey Club proud. It has shown today and the whole week that Hong Kong is back on the global stage and that Hong Kong racing is one of the global racing products which I feel as a city we should be proud of.”
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