Sean Bridges visits the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Written by Sean Bridges
Assistant Racecourses Manager - Eagle Farm
On the 21st of January I had the opportunity to travel to the Hong Kong Jockey Club. This two week trip was the prize for winning the Australian Racecourse Managers Association Steriline Scholarship. For two fantastic weeks I was shown every aspect of racing in Hong Kong, from track preparation and venue management, to the many charities they are involved in.
The Jockey Club consists of two racecourses with Happy Valley Racecourse being the original Racecourse in Hong Kong. Happy Valley has been reconstructed and now provides a great venue for all racing, including night racing on Wednesdays, Sunday racing and hosting international races such as the International Jockeys Championship. The track is 1417 meters in circumference, 30.5 meters wide and is a couch grass base, over sowed with ryegrass in the winter.
Sha Tin was opened in 1978 and is one of the most up-to-date and well-equipped racecourses in the world. There are modern air conditioned stables, complete with closed-circuit television security. There is accommodation for about 1200 horses with some 300-350 horses brought in annually to maintain this population level. The racecourse features the world’s longest diamond vision screen which stretches 70.4 meters and the world’s first retractable roof over their parade ring. An American Dirt track, similar to the one at Eagle Farm, is used for both trials and races. The course proper is 1899 meters in circumference, 30.5 meters wide and is couch grass over sowed with ryegrass.
During my time at the Jockey Club, I was privy to seeing just how expansive and progressive the club is. The Honk Kong Jockey Club itself controls all facets of operations. In relation to racing in Queensland, the Hong Kong Jockey Club is the Racing Clubs, Boards, Totes and Bookies, molded into one progressive, highly efficient organization. The annual turnover exceeds HK$70 billion from betting alone, of which more than HK$8.5 Billion is contributed as Horse Racing Betting Duty to the Government. The Club is the largest single taxpayer in Hong Kong and contributes more than a HK$1 Billion to charities and community projects, which makes it among the top 20 US philanthropic foundations.
Horse trainers at the Jockey Club are entitled to benefits such as staff administration, the provision of fodder and training facilities - All of these services plus the facilities are provided to the free of charge. Trainers are paid a monthly fee of HK$600 per horse and 9.2% of all prize money won. All employees of the club including ground staff, administration staff, catering staff, trainers, stewards, track riders, jockeys and stable hands are provided accommodation by the Jockey Club at Happy Valley and Sha-Tin. The Jockey Club even has its own television production studio at Happy Valley where the weekly racing shows are produced.
Unfortunately this short report does not even come close to putting my time at The Club into context, but what struck me was the absolute pride for the Hong Kong Jockey Club that all of its employees demonstrated in their attitudes to and of their work.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Brisbane Racing Club CEO, Stephen Ferguson and the entire Board of Directors for allowing me the time to undertake this fantastic opportunity.
