Hold Your Horses

Horse racing is a big deal in Hong Kong, all thanks to the venerable Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Words: Kyle Johnson Research: Jonathan Auguste

Established in 1884, the Hong Kong Jockey Club has maintained the spectator sport of horse racing, one of Hong Kong’s favourite pastimes, for more than 100 years. September marks the beginning of the season, and all locals know that when the races are on, the city breathes differently. Roads shut and traffic slows around the radius of the race courses, lines snake out of Hong Kong Jockey Club betting branches, and the cheer of the racing crowds can be heard from miles away as the horses and their jockeys cross the finish line time after time.

Horse racing has been a part of Asia’s World City for over a century. In 1841, the British cleared out a malarial swamp to form a racetrack at Happy Valley. Once the Hong Kong Jockey Club was founded, the organisation took over the track and grew the site into a grand racing destination, with bars, restaurants, galleries, and enough seats to hold thousands of fans. Today the course is surrounded by skyscrapers and sits on the city’s infamous tramline, making it hard to believe that it was once an infested swamp. In 1978, the Club opened a second racecourse in Shatin. This time it started strong; the course kicked off with a capacity of 80,000, as well as the world's first retractable roof over a parade ring and the world's longest Diamond Vision Television screen. It comes as no surprise that a course of that quality also hosts numerous major racing events.

During the years, it seems the popularity of horse racing has rarely waned. In fact, the only time the races were halted in Happy Valley was for a few years during World War II. As horse racing drew in more and more fans, off-course illegal gambling popped up all over town, so in 1973 the Government authorised the Hong Kong Jockey Club to open off-course betting branches in order to combat illegal betting. Now, not only do the tracks come alive on race nights, but the off-site branches do too. Spectators who are unable to attend the races camp outside the branches and pay close attention to the screens in order to determine what bets to place.

Besides holding races and maintaining betting branches, the Club preserves a member’s institution with innumerable facilities. However, most of all, it is Hong Kong’s largest taxpayer and leading charitable donor, contributing more than $1 billion every year to charitable funds. This generous tradition started during the 1950s, a time when Hong Kong struggled with rebuilding the city and accommodating the influx of immigrants after the war. The Jockey Club stepped in to help and in 1955 it officially committed its annual surplus to charity and community projects.

The Club has a number of options for tourists who would like to experience the races firsthand. The first is the Tourist Badge, which gives holders access to Members' Betting Halls, trackside areas, and members’ only restaurants. Badges can be purchased on race day or 10 days prior at designated betting branches. The second is the premium “Come Horseracing Tour” for admission to the Member’s Enclosures, an unlimited buffet with drinks, and plenty of other perks to make you feel like a regular. Contact official tour operators for tickets at 2723 1808 or 2368 7111. The third is the “Racing in Style” package, which includes seats near the winning post, an international buffet, unlimited drinks, and welcome kit. The reservation form is available at www.racecourses.hkjc.com.

This month, there are races at Happy Valley on September 8, 15 and 23 (MTR Causeway Bay, exit A, then a 15-minute walk along Wong Nai Chung Road, or take any tram marked “Happy Valley” to the Happy Valley Tram terminus) The Shatin races take place on September 5, 12, 18 and 26. (MTR Shatin Racecourse)

It is hard to say why so many people love horse racing. It may be the history, the fun of it, or the chance to win big bucks, but overall it is something that unites a whole spectrum of viewers. Over its many years, the Hong Kong Jockey Club has become an integral and established member of the community and it shows no signs of slowing down.

Getting to Know the Club

•	Betting is against the law for persons under the age of 18, and betting is only allowed through the HKJC.
•	Pick up a betting slip to place bets at the race. (They are found anywhere inside the race course). Then mark down the type of bet, the race number, the number of the horse you are betting on, and the amount of money.
•	There is a Horse Racing Museum at the Happy Valley Stand dedicated to exhibiting horse racing in Hong Kong and the Club’s charity work. Tel: 2966 8065
•	There are nearly 700 races per year conducted by the HKJC.
•	The average volume of bets for a single horse race in Hong Kong is US$15 million, making it the highest in the world. (Comparatively, the average volume of bets in the US for a single race is around US$300,000.)