Part 2: A look at racing at Happy

Valley Racecourse & the Racing

Industry in Hong Kong

Is the racecourse at Happy Valley, Hong Kong’s second racetrack, equipped with the special horse-cooling devices that are in place at Sha Tin?

THE state of the art horse-cooling devices and aids (featured in last week’s focus) at the Sha Tin racetrack, are not mirrored at Happy Valley. However, to avoid having horses racing in the intense heat and humidity, night racing was introduced in 1973.

Happy Valley is typically a lower grade meeting than at Sha Tin, with no Group 1 races. Due to the tight turns and twisting nature of the track itself (a turf track), it usually suits more adaptable types of horses.

The track is right in the heart of Hong Kong Island and is a well promoted tourist attraction. Though it is generally less modern and lower-scale than the Sha Tin racecourse, Happy Valley is a unique venue for both racing and entertainment. Its electric gambling atmosphere amongst a dazzling array of skyscraper lights of the surrounding high rise buildings, adds to the night’s buzz and excitement that has to be seen to be believed. Residential skyscrapers are two sides of the Happy Valley arena and residents can watch the races from their apartments. The Hong Kong Jockey Club uses the track for races on several Wednesday evenings a month from September to late June.

To attract the crowds, entrance ticket prices are approximately €1 and the minimum bet is €1. There is a sophisticated computerised betting system and races are shown live on a gigantic screen. The inner field of the track contains sports and leisure facilities such as football, hockey and rugby fields, managed by the leisure and cultural services department.

Is Happy Valley racetrack long in existence?

Built by British military officers, the first races were held at Happy Valley in 1846 and after many refurbishments and extensions, seating at the track was increased to its present capacity approximately 55,000.

Why is the Hong Kong Jockey Club so successful in horseracing management?

The Hong Kong Jockey Club is collectively, what all the Racing Clubs, Boards, Totes and bookies in Ireland are, moulded into one progressive highly efficient organisation. It is one of the largest racing organisations in the world. It is racing’s sole regulator, enforcer, operator and virtually sole employer. Every facet of the HK Jockey Club is controlled and organised by them, making and administering all rules in horseracing at their two race tracks, Sha Tin and Happy Valley. They host approximately 84 race meetings per year, with approximately two meetings per week. Each race day creates a World Cup type atmosphere.

It was formed in 1884 to organise the social and entertainment activities and the gambling of Hong Kong's ruling class, in addition to providing government support and charity donations. Since 2003, The HK Jockey Club enjoys a government-granted monopoly for taking bets on Hong Kong horseracing events and on sports betting that previously went to illegal bookmakers. Furthermore, there are few high profile organised sporting events in HK to divert attention from horseracing so the thoroughbreds are virtually ‘the only game in town’.

How are the huge betting profits distributed by the Hong Kong Club?

Most of the profits are collected by the government for revenue. The HK Jockey Club is the largest single taxpayer in Hong Kong, contributing 8% of total Government revenue. As it is a not-for-profit organisation, The Club contributes more than a 1 billion HK dollars (€100 million), to charities and community projects. It has been listed in the USA as among the top 20 philanthropic foundations globally.

For the 2013/14 racing season, horseracing betting turnover was over 103 billion HK dollars (€10 billion). The attendance was over two million people and betting duty from racing paid as Horse Racing Betting Duty to Government was approx 12 billion HK dollars (over €1 billion).

Punters can bet with confidence as comprehensive statistical information for jockey and trainer performance is widely accessible.

The HK Jockey Club is one of the largest employers in Hong Kong, with approximately 6,000 full-time and 18,000 part-time staff. All employees of The Club including ground staff, administration staff, catering staff, trainers, stewards, track riders, jockeys and stable hands are provided with accommodation by the Jockey Club at Happy Valley and Sha Tin.

The Club also has its own television production studio at Happy Valley from which they produce all the weekly racing shows.

What is the system for horse trainers in Hong Kong?

Unlike all other racing nations, the number of jockeys and trainers in Hong Kong is limited to a small pool with only 24 trainers and 35 jockeys. The HK Jockey Club is the sole licensing authority for all trainers and jockeys. To become a member, the applicant has to obtain the application form from one of The Club’s 200 Voting Members, have the endorsement of two Voting Members and support from three current Members. The joining membership fee is 400,000 HK dollars, (€40,000), with 1,800HK dollars (€180) monthly subscriptions.

Horse trainers of the Hong Kong Jockey Club are entitled to benefits such as staff administration, provision of feed and training facilities. All these services and facilities are provided to the trainer free of charge.

Trainers are paid a monthly fee per horse (approx 600 HK dollars (€60) per horse) and get 9.2% of all prize money. Assistant trainers and grooms receive approximately 9.8%. The grooms are assigned to trainers and earn approximately 38,000 HK dollars (€3,800) per month, plus a share of their horses' winnings, for caring for a maximum of three horses each.

The Club keeps the number of horses to relatively small numbers, with approximately 1,200 horses in training. Since there is no natural environment for a breeding industry in Hong Kong, all horses are imported with approximately 350 to 400 horses brought in each year to maintain the horse population level.

The country import figures are approximate: 68% from Australia and New Zealand, 26% from Ireland and UK and 6% from France and others.

What is the position on medication rules used in racehorses in Hong Kong?

The HK Jockey Club provides professional veterinary services and medications, operating 24-hour surveillance on the conditioning and the health of all horses.

As regards medication in racing, HK is one of the strictest racing jurisdictions in the world. No medications are allowed in racing and some drugs, e.g. Lasix, cannot even be used in training; this is a contentious issue and problematic where their horses go to compete in other racing jurisdictions, particularly the USA.

All medications are dispensed from the pharmacy only after approval by a HKJ Club Department of Veterinary Clinical Services Club Vet. Detailed records on treatments that the horses are receiving are kept and close tracking of medication used is routine procedure.

The Club runs the Racing Laboratory at Sha Tin, a world class drug–testing facility, internationally accredited for testing equines, canine and human samples for the presence of prohibited substances.