Mar
1
Enjoying the Races at the Hong Kong Jockey Club
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Naveen Marasinghe asked:
The Hong Kong Jockey Club is one of the oldest institutions in the country; it was founded in the year 1884 to promote the sport of horse racing. It catered largely to the colonial British administrators during its period of inception. Today it is a non-profit organization that provides horse racing, sporting and betting entertainment to the people of Hong Kong. It has been the largest tax payer as well as the largest charity contributor in Hong Kong of recent times, as well as proving recreational and socializing events to its 20,000 odd members.
The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club conducts over 700 horse races annually at its two tracks at Happy Valley and Sha Tin. Following the transfer of sovereignty to the People’s Republic of China the volume of bets and the number of horse races declined marginally. But many believe that equestrian events are enjoying a renaissance in Hong Kong with records crowd since 2007.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club was also instrumental in organizing the equestrian events of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The world class racing track of the club at Sha Tin was utilized for the purpose and also hosted the events for the Paralympic Games. Located close to the Hong Kong Jockey Club is a hotel in Hong Kong known as the Cosmo Hotel. This is an excellent choice for racing enthusiasts as it provides excellent transportation links to the country’s race courses as well.
WELDON
The Hong Kong Jockey Club is one of the oldest institutions in the country; it was founded in the year 1884 to promote the sport of horse racing. It catered largely to the colonial British administrators during its period of inception. Today it is a non-profit organization that provides horse racing, sporting and betting entertainment to the people of Hong Kong. It has been the largest tax payer as well as the largest charity contributor in Hong Kong of recent times, as well as proving recreational and socializing events to its 20,000 odd members.
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The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club conducts over 700 horse races annually at its two tracks at Happy Valley and Sha Tin. Following the transfer of sovereignty to the People’s Republic of China the volume of bets and the number of horse races declined marginally. But many believe that equestrian events are enjoying a renaissance in Hong Kong with records crowd since 2007.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club was also instrumental in organizing the equestrian events of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The world class racing track of the club at Sha Tin was utilized for the purpose and also hosted the events for the Paralympic Games. Located close to the Hong Kong Jockey Club is a hotel in Hong Kong known as the Cosmo Hotel. This is an excellent choice for racing enthusiasts as it provides excellent transportation links to the country’s race courses as well.
WELDON
Jan
21
Gee Up for Hong Kong Horses
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andrew.regan.2006@googlemail.com asked:
Temperatures expected to reach a scorching 35°C will prove a real challenge for both participants and organisers of the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian events taking place in Hong Kong next August. Factor in high percentage humidity to the scorching heat and that provides event conditions that organisers describe, with a degree of understatement as “not that equine-friendly”.
Although undoubtedly extremely uncomfortable for riders the primary concern for the event’s organisers is the welfare of the horses. New facilities have been custom-built for the event and the Hong Kong Jockey Club has contributed almost £50million to the project, anxious to ensure that everything proceeds smoothly. To be sure that happened the club took comprehensive veterinary advice before designing and planning new facilities, and modifying existing ones.
The facilities will be used to host the three-day eventing, dressage and showjumping; the first time any major events involving horses will have taken place in Hong Kong during the stifling heat of August. Although horse racing has been a major item on the region’s sporting calendar since 1884 it has never taken place during this traditionally hot and humid month.
Showjumping and dressage venues will be incorporated in and around the Sha Tin racecourse, the training facilities will be in the centre of the circuit, and the cross-country course is 30 minutes drive away at Hong Kong Golf Club and Beas River Country Club. The course has been designed with four different set-ups, so in the case of extreme temperatures and humidity and with horse welfare compromised the course can be shortened.
In an attempt to make the events more horse-friendly in the anticipated conditions they are scheduled for early mornings, and later in the evenings under floodlights. However, there will still be mobile cooling units on hand adjacent to the cross-country track to treat overheated horses, and there will a state-of-the-art equine hospital on site.
In terms of stabling, the horses will receive the equestrian equivalent of a five star hotel in Hong Kong. Air conditioning in each of the stables that will house 200 horses, roofs that can be opened and even standby fans should the air-con fail. Walk-through misting tents will allow horses to receive a fine cooling spray once tack has been removed by their riders.
To ensure that the facilities will work under competition conditions the Jockey Club tested them, hosting the Good Luck Beijing Cup this year on the same dates as next year’s Olympic events. Everything went smoothly and any small problems were ironed out, leaving organisers confident and looking forward to hosting the Olympics next year.
LINWOOD
Temperatures expected to reach a scorching 35°C will prove a real challenge for both participants and organisers of the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian events taking place in Hong Kong next August. Factor in high percentage humidity to the scorching heat and that provides event conditions that organisers describe, with a degree of understatement as “not that equine-friendly”.
___________________________________________________________________
Although undoubtedly extremely uncomfortable for riders the primary concern for the event’s organisers is the welfare of the horses. New facilities have been custom-built for the event and the Hong Kong Jockey Club has contributed almost £50million to the project, anxious to ensure that everything proceeds smoothly. To be sure that happened the club took comprehensive veterinary advice before designing and planning new facilities, and modifying existing ones.
The facilities will be used to host the three-day eventing, dressage and showjumping; the first time any major events involving horses will have taken place in Hong Kong during the stifling heat of August. Although horse racing has been a major item on the region’s sporting calendar since 1884 it has never taken place during this traditionally hot and humid month.
Showjumping and dressage venues will be incorporated in and around the Sha Tin racecourse, the training facilities will be in the centre of the circuit, and the cross-country course is 30 minutes drive away at Hong Kong Golf Club and Beas River Country Club. The course has been designed with four different set-ups, so in the case of extreme temperatures and humidity and with horse welfare compromised the course can be shortened.
In an attempt to make the events more horse-friendly in the anticipated conditions they are scheduled for early mornings, and later in the evenings under floodlights. However, there will still be mobile cooling units on hand adjacent to the cross-country track to treat overheated horses, and there will a state-of-the-art equine hospital on site.
In terms of stabling, the horses will receive the equestrian equivalent of a five star hotel in Hong Kong. Air conditioning in each of the stables that will house 200 horses, roofs that can be opened and even standby fans should the air-con fail. Walk-through misting tents will allow horses to receive a fine cooling spray once tack has been removed by their riders.
To ensure that the facilities will work under competition conditions the Jockey Club tested them, hosting the Good Luck Beijing Cup this year on the same dates as next year’s Olympic events. Everything went smoothly and any small problems were ironed out, leaving organisers confident and looking forward to hosting the Olympics next year.
LINWOOD