Happy Valley

The Longines International Jockeys' Championship, set for Wednesday evening at iconic Happy Valley Racecourse, marks the true start of Hong Kong International Races week, as 12 of the world's top jockey's compete for the HK$500,000 winner's share of the HK$800,000 on offer. Though the crowds won't be there, owing to an uptick in the number of COVID cases over the last few weeks, six locally based riders will face a half-dozen of their peers that have jetted in from Europe, with a revised format in the distribution of mounts that...

Six European-based jockeys will square off against a half-dozen Hong Kong-based riders in the Longines International Jockeys' Championship at Hong Kong's Happy Valley Racecourse Wednesday, Dec. 9. Carrying prizemoney of HK$800,000 (£77,666/€86,943)--with a first prize of HK$500,000--the IJC is the most lucrative jockey competition in the world. The foreign contingent is led by the duo of Tom Marquand and Hollie Doyle, aged 22 and 24, respectively, and each of whom has celebrated a breakout season in 2020. Among Marquand's successes this season include the G1 QIPCO British Champion S. aboard...

For the upcoming Feb. 26 and Mar. 1 and 4th race meetings, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, as requested by the HKSAR Government, will only allow trainers, jockeys, Club officials, stewards with race day duties and owners with starters that have already made a prior reservation in an owner box to be admitted due to the risk of contracting the coronavirus (COVID-19). No guests will be admitted, while customers are required to receive temperature screenings before entry and are advised to wear medical masks during the race meeting. Additionally, for...

Racing continues Saturday with a 10-race program at Sha Tin, even as the coronavirus outbreak that has its origins in Mainland China is causing some major contingency planning by officials at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Over the last few weeks, attendance at live meetings at Sha Tin in the New Territories to the north and at Happy Valley Racecourse on Hong Kong Island to the south has been restricted to those with pre-existing reservations, with public areas closed. The Chinese New Year racecard at Sha Tin, which normally attracts...