Will 82 be a new lucky number for horse racing and Mark Six fans?

Imagine sitting in front of the TV, racing papers and a pen in hand, only to find that the televised live horse racing isn’t on. Or maybe you have a handful of Mark Six tickets, but the live lottery draw has been replaced with a completely different programme. Have no fear – they’re just on another channel.

From today (22 April), TV viewers looking for horse racing and the Mark Six draw need to tap 82 on their remote control to stay tuned. The Hong Kong Jockey Club has completed the migration of the two programmes to free-to-air Channel 82, renamed as TVB Plus, after the Communications Authority recently approved a channel restructuring proposal by Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB).

Racing fans can witness the thoroughbreds thundering down the racetrack on the live programme Trackside with Nicam services on Channel 82, while the broadcasting schedule of racing ancillary programmes in Cantonese will be slightly adjusted. Telecast of the English pre-race programme Racing To Win will continue to air on TVB Pearl (Channel 84).

Mark Six enthusiasts can eagerly tune in to Channel 82 at 9:30pm on draw dates to discover whether the switch will bring them luck and a reason to splurge on some Lafite ’82. Other existing paid or online channels to find racing programmes and Mark Six draws remain unchanged.

On the first Sunday (28 April) after the switch to Channel 82, the Jockey Club will be staging the electrifying FWD Champions Day, where the very best of Hong Kong’s elite gallopers and a top-line overseas contingent will compete for victory in three exciting Group 1 races. So, remember where to tune in on Sunday to witness the amazing spectacle.