Golden start to Hong Kong season

Sha Tin racecourse crackled with atmosphere at the 2014/2015 Hong Kong season opener today, Sunday 14 September, as a record crowd for the day of 69,878 race fans enjoyed glorious sunshine and exciting sport.

Joao Moreira ignited the crowd with a treble and took the day’s feature, the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup, aboard Golden Harvest, while Champion Jockey Zac Purton notched a double to also start the season on a high note.

“With Golden Harvest winning the feature race, we can say it was a golden season opener. Our records show that our attendance and turnover for the day are the highest in the last 20 years, and possibly all-time,” said Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer.

“We are optimistic going into our 130th anniversary year,” he continued. “We have had a terrific start with entertaining and interesting racing, which is the core of all that we are doing.”

The day’s attendance at Hong Kong’s two racecourses combined was 74,281, an increase of over 12% on 2013, while the Sha Tin attendance was up more than 13% on last year. The total topped the record set 12 months ago.

“Our attendance was more than we could have hoped for and is extremely encouraging given the significant increase in numbers we had last season. If you compare with 2009/2010, it is practically a 50% increase in attendance from that time, so we feel we are seeing the benefits of the strategic investment we have made and the entertainment we have created here at the race track,” said Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges.

Turnover for the day also eclipsed the previous record, set in 2013.

“The turnover is very encouraging too,” said the CEO. “The figure of HK$1.139 billion is the highest in 20 years and represents a 10.4% increase on last year when turnover was a very strong HK$1.032 billion.

“I look forward to continuing with this trend. It is very important that we continue the growth of the racing industry; that we continue producing these figures – in the end it is for the benefit of Hong Kong. Today will be another record tax contribution to the government of HK$136 million.”

Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges was pleased with the fantastic atmosphere and the positive feedback from race-goers regarding new racecourse facilities, opened today under the latest phase of the ongoing revitalising Racecourse Master Plan.

“I went to see the new venues, which have got an overwhelmingly positive response from our customers, so we think we are on the right track,” he said. “I would like to thank our customers for their enthusiastic response and also our team who have done a fantastic job to get everything ready.”