For Aaron Kwok Fu-shing, the horse has never been just a symbol—it is a mirror.
The Hong Kong superstar has long compared himself to the animal he now represents as ambassador for the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Year of the Horse campaign—a creature defined by resilience, movement, discipline and quiet power. Those shared traits, he says, have shaped both his life and his career, and now guide his role in a year-long celebration of the deep bond between horse and human.
Kwok said he sees himself reflected in the horse’s spirit—steadfast yet sensitive, driven but grounded—qualities that have influenced his approach to acting, music and performance over decades in the public eye. “I remain unafraid of difficulties,” he said, adding that stepping into the role of Year of the Horse Ambassador leaves him feeling “hopeful, excited and nervous at the same time.”
That mix of humility and determination sits at the heart of the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s campaign, launched on Friday as a year-long series of cultural, sporting and community events designed to honor the horse’s unique place in Chinese culture and in Hong Kong’s identity.
As a long-time horse owner and racing enthusiast, Kwok brings authenticity to the role. He said the perseverance, vitality and passion embodied by horses and horse racing have been a constant inspiration throughout his artistic career, and that he hopes to share that understanding with the wider public through community initiatives and family-focused events held throughout the year.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, said the Year of the Horse carries special meaning for the Club as it marks more than 140 years of shared history between Hong Kong and the sport of racing.
“Racing is a symbol of Hong Kong’s never-give-up can-do spirit, its resilience and striving for excellence,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said. “It is also a symbol of the city’s stability under ‘One Country, Two Systems.’”
He added that horse racing has grown beyond sport to become a globally recognized emblem of Hong Kong itself, making the city proud when its horses succeed both locally and overseas. Through the Club’s integrated business model, he said, that success translates into tangible economic and social benefits for the wider community.
Central to the campaign is the idea of emotional connectivity—the unique relationship between humans and horses that has endured for thousands of years and continues to resonate today. That bond will be highlighted through a packed calendar of events, beginning with the Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show in February, where the Club will serve as strategic partner for a three-day showcase of world-class showjumping and equestrian performance.
Later in the year, Europe’s largest touring horse show, CAVALLUNA, will make its Asian debut in Hong Kong, blending horsemanship with music, theater and storytelling in a family-friendly spectacle. Major race days—including the BMW Hong Kong Derby, FWD Champions Day and the Longines Hong Kong International Races—will also play a key role in reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as a global racing capital.
Chinese New Year celebrations will feature prominently, with a horse-themed float in the International Chinese New Year Night Parade, a harbor fireworks display titled Prosperity Gallops Across Hong Kong, and a festive Year of the Horse Raceday at Sha Tin Racecourse.
Beyond racing and entertainment, the campaign extends into culture and education. Exhibitions with the Palace Museum and the Hong Kong Palace Museum will explore the horse’s role in Chinese history, while public art installations—including large-scale horse sculptures across the city—will bring the theme into everyday urban life.
For Kwok, the goal is simple: to help people reconnect with the spirit of the horse. “Through the Year of the Horse,” he said, “I hope to inspire everyone to embrace its hope and momentum—and to keep moving forward.”
