Hong Kong Jockey Club

The first of two sessions of the Hong Kong International Sale took place Saturday morning in the parade ring at Sha Tin Racecourse, having been postponed from Hong Kong Derby weekend in mid-March owing to the COVID-19 outbreak. Some 16 lots, purchased in Europe and South America, were scheduled to go under the hammer before five withdrawals earlier in the week left 11 ready-to-run gallopers to be offered. Owner Kerm Din, who campaigned one of the HKIS's most notable graduates in the form of 'TDN Rising Star' and MG1SW Pakistan...

Racing at the Singapore Turf Club, which had already been reduced to once a week, could be called off from Apr. 7 through May 4 in accordance with guidelines issued by the Singapore government Apr. 3, suspending all non-essential workplaces during that period. Friday's program at Kranji Racecourse, held spectator-free for the second straight week, went ahead as scheduled, but live racing is set to be canceled Apr. 10, Apr. 17 and Apr. 24. Racing was also due to take place May 1 and 2. Earlier in the week, officials...

As a result of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak in the country, all horse racing operations in South Korea will be suspended at least through Mar. 22. Alastair Middleton, an English racecaller for the Korean Racing Authority, reported the news in a tweet Wednesday. On Wednesday, Feb. 26, officials at the KRA announced that racing would cease in the country beginning Friday, Feb. 28 before the situation was reevaluated Mar. 9. A total of 12 meetings (including pony races) at the three KRA-owned facilities were to be canceled. An additional six...

The Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Dubai Racing Club have partnered to offer World Pool betting for Meydan's Mar. 7 Super Saturday card and Mar. 28 Dubai World Cup meeting. Overseas pari-mutuel wagers placed through partners from Australia, Canada, Europe, Singapore and the U.S. will be commingled into Hong Kong's pools directly or via Premier Gateway International (PGI) during the two Dubai meetings. This will provide maximum liquidity and stronger opportunities for customers. Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the Hong Kong Jockey Club's chief executive officer, said, "The commingling development in Hong...

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...

Collaboration and communication are key to forming fruitful relationships with government that allow the industry to move forward, representatives from four countries iterated in a panel titled 'Engaging with the Government as a Stakeholder' during the closing session of the Asian Racing Conference in Cape Town on Friday. Andrew Harding, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, discussed how that organization has strong relationships with the government in both the Hong Kong SAR and Mainland China. "The Hong Kong government regards the Hong Kong Jockey Club as a close...

The combat of illegal betting was a key theme during the first session of panels at the Asian Racing Conference in Cape Town on Wednesday. Douglas Robinson, senior due diligence and research manager for the Hong Kong Jockey Club and deputy chairman of the Asian Racing Federation Anti-Illegal Betting Taskforce, said racing "faces a war against a rampant illegal betting market" and stressed the need for racing regulators to build relationships with governments to combat the problem. The ARF's Anti-Illegal Betting Taskforce was set up in 2016 and comprises 14...

The Asian Racing Conference has returned to South Africa for the first time in more than two decades, and following opening ceremonies on Tuesday evening panels are set to take place Feb. 19 through 21 in Cape Town. The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Executive Director of Racing Andrew Harding, also secretary-general of the Asian Racing Federation, gave the opening address on behalf of HKJC Chief Executive Officer and ARF Chairman Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, who has remained in Hong Kong to manage the Club's response to the coronavirus pandemic. "Winfried has asked...

In light of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Hong Kong Jockey Club revealed as part of a statement on Tuesday that it is "critically considering a further reduction of on-site participation by our customers" from Saturday. Meetings at Hong Kong's two racecourses, Sha Tin and Happy Valley, have been staged in recent weeks under partial lockdown, meaning that only owners, horse people, racecourse staff and patrons with existing hospitality bookings were permitted on-course. New hospitality bookings at the two racecourses have been suspended effective immediately. On the same day that Hong...

by Alan Carasso A trio of 100-plus rated 4-year-old heads to the post for Monday's first leg of the Classic series in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Classic Mile. Two of those have already achieved the rare feat of defeating more seasoned gallopers at group level, including the very progressive Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro). One of a pair of entrants from the on-fire Francis Lui yard, the gelded son of Gaudeamus (Distorted Humor) has won eight from nine, including a commanding two-length tally in the G3 Chinese Club Challenge...

In an unprecedented move owing to the outbreak of coronavirus in mainland China, officials at the Hong Kong Jockey Club announced Friday that it would go ahead with Monday's Chinese New Year card at Sha Tin, but that attendance would be restricted to in an effort to "strengthen hygiene protection," according to a release from the Club. Apart from essential parties, i.e. trainers, owners, jockeys, HKJC officials, only those who have booked a prior reservation at racecourse restaurants will be admitted to the track. All customers will receive temperature screenings...

by Alan Carasso Hammered into $1.50 (2-1 on) favouritism to assume the mantle of Hong Kong's top miler, Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) was given a ride full of finesse from jockey Joao Moreira and raced over the top of two-time defending Horse of the Year Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) in the dying strides for a maiden Group 1 success in Sunday's Stewards' Cup at Sha Tin. But while there very well may be a new sheriff in town, the deposed king of the hill showed that...