Punters crowd Sha Tin Racecourse for Chinese New Year Raceday 2025

The Chinese New Year Raceday kicked off on Friday morning at the Sha Tin Racecourse, attracting both punters and tourists to the festivities.

Upon entering, attendees were given a Windmill Fortune Pen while supplies lasted and had the chance to enter the Chinese New Year Lucky Draw, with opportunities to win one of 888 gold or gold-plated ornaments.

An opening ceremony was held before the races began. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po and Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui were the officiating guests. Alongside Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) Chairman Michael Lee Tze-hau and HKJC Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, they participated in the eye-dotting ceremony for the lion dance.

The jockeys also participated, holding fai chun and greeting the racing fans in Cantonese. Many fans gathered in the stands to watch the ceremony.

The day's highlight is the Hong Kong Classic Mile, the first leg of the 4-Y-O Classic Series. This race will take place alongside the Centenary Vase and Chinese New Year Cup, providing thrilling competition on the track.

To encourage racing tourism, tourists with valid travel documents were allowed free entry to the venue.

The gates for the annual event opened at 10.30 am, with enthusiastic horse racing fans having already started lining up outside the venue two hours earlier.

One punter, attending for the tenth year, expressed his hopes for more wins today and wished for health and wealth in the new year.

Several horse racing enthusiasts, attending with friends, were eager to test their luck at the racecourse, planning to spend thousands on betting.

A tourist from Shanghai, celebrating the new year in Hong Kong, shared that they had enjoyed the fireworks the previous night and were now experiencing the unique race culture of Hong Kong, highlighting the festive atmosphere of the city.

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