Excitement fills Sha Tin Racecourse as bustling crowds hope to turn a festive flutter into a fortune on Year of the Horse Raceday on Thursday, with the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) reporting a record-high of visiting tourists among the 98,185 spectators in total.
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HKJC said 20,395 tourists were visiting Sha Tin Racecourse on Thursday, and the total number of tourists recorded in the ongoing season stands at 209,541. The number has surpassed last season's record of approximately 195,780 -- a sign of the immense appeal of horse racing tourism.
"For me, the main takeaway was that we wanted to create a festive atmosphere and we wanted to showcase Hong Kong racing as a tourist event," HKJC chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said. "The feedback we got from visitors was extremely positive."
“We exceeded the number of tourists we had last year, we thought the atmosphere was fantastic – everything from the pre-show to the rappers, it was good. Sporting-wise, it was a great meeting - turnover was a little lower than last year but we were expecting that because last year we had the Hong Kong Classic Mile on this day.”
“Overall, we look forward to a very good start to the season and to Sunday and Ka Ying Rising attempted the record,” he added. Ka Ying Rising will attempt to win its 18th consecutive race on Sunday in the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup, which would break the record set by Silent Witness in 2005.
In terms of betting, the day’s 11 races generated over HK$1.84 billion in turnover.
Long queues were seen outside the racetrack this morning, with families, seasoned punters and curious tourists eager to take part in the beloved Lunar New Year tradition.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui, Martin Liao, HKJC chairman Martin Liao Cheung-kong, Engelbrecht-Bresges and other guests officiated the opening ceremony of the Year of the Horse Raceday and extended their New Year blessings to racegoers.
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Among the packed stands, a first-time racegoer planned to spend a few hundred dollars, hoping for a quick fortune in the Year of the Horse Raceday, one of the highlights of HKJC's Year of the Horse campaign.
Another experienced attendee, who always bets on the third day of the Lunar New Year whenever possible, said the day was about more than just money.
"I come every year for fun—after all, it's just a little gamble for a good start to the year," he explained.
Echoing similar sentiments, expectations ran high at the venue, with many hoping the Horse Year brings even more luck and prosperity. Some even expressed hope for good health for everyone and world peace.
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The festive atmosphere also drew first-time visitors from the mainland, including a visitor from Nanjing who described the city's festive spirit as palpable.
"We only found out about the raceday today, so we came along with my parents to experience the atmosphere," she said.
A German couple, Andreas Brautlacht and Regina Brautlacht, described their visit to the racecourse as “very interesting.”They noted that while their hometown has two racecourses, they are far smaller in scale compared with Sha Tin.
The pair also praised the festive atmosphere during the Lunar New Year, calling it “very special,” and said Hong Kong feels like a vibrant city where people are enjoying life.
A special highlight at the Racecourse was two “Harmonious Horses” sculptures standing over three metres high and created by renowned artist Simon Ma. Their appearance marked the launch of the Harmonious Horse International Exhibition Tour, which will see the horses tour Hong Kong throughout the year as part of the Club’s Year of the Horse campaign.
The HKJC’s float from the International Chinese New Year Night Parade on the first day of Chinese New Year was also presented at the Racecourse.
Before the crowd cheered for their chosen horses, Cantopop diva Kelly Chen Wai-lam took the stage to perform New Year hits and share blessings.
Layering the excitement, Aaron Kwok Fu-shing, the Jockey Club's Year of the Horse ambassador, made a star appearance to celebrate the New Year alongside racegoers.
Adding to the lively atmosphere, the HKJC handed out windmill-shaped pens to all racegoers—a traditional symbol of good luck and smooth turning fortune for the year ahead.
Visitors can also immerse themselves in the celebratory atmosphere with an array of festive programs, ranging from lucky treats and lion dances to blessings from the God of Fortune for a prosperous start to the Year of the Horse.
