Record attendance, tourist number and betting turnover for HK Derby

The 2025 Hong Kong Derby saw a record-high in on-course attendance, traveler attendance and betting turnover at the Sha Tin Racecourse this afternoon.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club said the race meeting in the afternoon attracted over 61,000 visitors to the racecourse, in which over 9,000 were mainland or overseas travelers, with both numbers being the highest in the Hong Kong Derby history. The total attendance at both racecourses reached nearly 72,000.

The turnover also exceeded HK$1.7 billion for the 10-race meeting on Sunday, also setting a new Derby record.

Some travelers joined the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s tourist package, which includes a racecourse tour, visit to the parade ring and interactive experience zones, as well as a view of the race from the finishing line.

Two Shanghai tourists said: “We were initially unfamiliar with horse racing, but now we have a deeper understanding of Hong Kong’s horse racing culture and the horse-ownership system,”

“The guided tour also introduced us to past champion horses, and we took photos with their murals, allowing us to experience the charm of horse racing,” said the pair, who added the Derby to their itinerary after learning about it on social media.

A traveler from Shunde, who has visited Hong Kong numerous times, made this trip specifically for the Hong Kong Derby. Experiencing the Sha Tin Racecourse for the first time, he was impressed by the lively atmosphere.

“Horse racing is just like other competitive sports. In the final moments before the finish line, the entire crowd cheers passionately for their favored horses— it’s a truly unforgettable experience.”

Australian import Cap Ferrat, under Australian jockey Craig Williams, won the BMW Hong Kong Derby for Francis Lui Kin-wai, Hong Kong’s reigning champion trainer.

The Hong Kong Derby, a 2000-metre race on turf, is traditionally a significant contest marking the debut of four-year-old race horses. This year, it is one of the highlight events of the Hong Kong Super March.

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