Thrilling Hong Kong International Races underline potential of horse racing tourism

The Hong Kong Jockey Club staged another thrilling edition of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday as thousands of spectators turned out for an exciting day of racing and entertainment.

The annual showcase featured 27 overseas horses from five countries competing against Hong Kong’s finest for glory in four Group 1 races.  Hong Kong showed its class with stunning wins by Ka Ying Rising in the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint, Voyage Bubble in the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile and Romantic Warrior in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup. Romantic Warrior became the first horse to win the Cup three times, taking his prize-money earnings to a world-record HK$177 million. Giavellotto from Great Britain claimed the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase.

Overall attendance at the two Hong Kong racecourses was 80,691 – the highest HKIR attendance since 2018. Among them were a record 6,511 visitors from the Mainland – 40% more than last year. Before the racing action got underway, international K-pop legend RAIN got fans in the mood with a performance of his hit songs in the Sha Tin parade ring

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “I personally think it was one of the best, if not the best, LONGINES Hong Kong International Races and an incredible week. Starting with the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship, it was an amazing success. Today, we hoped to create a highlight and I personally think everything went to perfection.”

Moreover, the event underlined the huge potential of horse racing tourism. With mid- and high-end tour groups from Japan, Australia and France coming to the city, plus many Mainland fans, the HKIR provided a welcome boost to the local economy.