Hong Kong passes the flag to India as historic Asian Racing Conference closes with announcement of HKJC CEO as new Chairman of the Asian Racing Federation

In a dazzling closing ceremony at Sha Tin tonight, 8 May, the hugely successful 35th Asian Racing Conference (ARC), hosted by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, concluded. Beginning with an opening ceremony and gala dinner on Monday, 5 May, the conference welcomed a record number of almost 800 delegates to four days of meetings, business sessions and other events, including an evening at Happy Valley racecourse to witness the Asian Racing Federation (ARF) Trophy race.

ARF Chairman, Dr Koji Sato, presiding over his final ARC in his current role, thanked the hosts for a memorable week. “On behalf of my Executive Council, I would like to thank our host, Mr Brian Stevenson, Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges and the 35th ARC Organising Committee, and the entire staff of the Hong Kong Jockey Club for providing us with the opportunity to gather here in Hong Kong.”

After thanking all the speakers and presenters for their invaluable input, Dr Sato continued: “This has been a tremendous conference with 15 different sessions, all very important to bring racing to new heights. If any conclusion can be drawn from this Conference, it would be to identify the means by which we can create greater economic value and protect the integrity of the sport we love.”

Welcoming delegates and guests from all over the world to the final event of the conference, the Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr T Brian Stevenson, said: “It's really been quite wonderful for all of us at the Hong Kong Jockey Club to play host to the world's largest and most important racing conference and to offer you our warmest hospitality over these past few days.”

Mr Stevenson added: “There has been a very real sense that this week's presentations have been geared towards material that has real practical applicability across the range of countries who are represented here.

“Greater international collaboration is clearly a must for the racing industry to maintain its competitiveness and popular appeal in the face of so many other competing forms of gaming and entertainment today. I believe we can achieve that,” he said.