A bumper crowd of over 25,000 punters descended on the Happy Valley Racecourse Wednesday night for the season finale, including Cantopop legend Aaron Kwok Fu-shing, accompanied by a pyrotechnic fireworks show and customary live music at the racecourse's beer garden.
The night of entertainment featured nine races of competitive action on the track starting at 6.30pm, as well as a jockey parade on the turf track, giving out souvenirs to racegoers, and taking selfies with them.
The races drew a full house at the racecourse, and thanks to the free admission for tourists, the racecourse on Wednesday night was filled with tour groups around the world.
A mainland tourist from Hainan, Stacy, said the atmosphere was superb.
"I can already hear the music before entering the racecourse, and everyone here is just so excited," Stacy said. "People kept telling me that Aaron Kwok was always at the racecourse, and therefore I look forward to seeing him in person at the racecourse."
Her wish came true, as Aaron Kwok was at the racecourse cheering his four-year-old gelding Dancing Classic in the Class 4 Race 5 over 1,200 meters.
Russell from the UK also enjoyed his visit to Happy Valley: "I think this is one of the best run racecourse in the world. Very professional, very honest, for me it is the highlight of Hong Kong."
US traveler Aaron was also thrilled: "I am a fan of night life, and so any promotion for it, whether that be free... I have not been to a horse race before, this is pretty exciting."
A Taiwan tourist also said he knew there is a Music Festival at the racecourse Wednesday night, therefore decided to pay a visit.
"Horseracing is a very important activity in Hong Kong, therefore I have to come experience this activity in person," he added.
The action-packed meeting on Wednesday night drew over HK$1.6 billion in total turnover for the meeting, with Beauty Waves scorched the Happy Valley turf track to set a new 1,200-meter record in the penultimate race.
The evening of celebration also saw jockey Matthew Poon Ming-fai prevailed in a neck-to-neck race for his maiden Tony Cruz Award, which is awarded to the best performing homegrown jockey of the season.
He successfully fended off a brave Derek Leung Ka-chun, who bagged a double in the meeting, as well as Matthew Chadwick, who was only one win behind him before the meeting.
(Michael Shum)
