Betting records tumbled, champions new and old were crowned, but there is no room for complacency, warned the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club's new chief executive Lawrence Wong at the close of the racing season. As the temperatures at Sha Tin soared towards 40 degrees, the power supply waned and the final two events had to be put back a quarter-of-an-hour as air-conditioners, escalators, television sets and lighting spluttered to a halt. The delay did nothing to dent punters' enthusiasm and betting turnover scaled new heights, with $300 million wagered on the final event alone - an increase of $27 million on the previous record set in the equivalent race of last season. The day's turnover topped $1.85 billion, also a new benchmark. The corresponding meeting 12 months ago saw $1.67 billion enter the Jockey Club's coffers. The season's total turnover of $80.67 billion represents an 11.6 per cent increase on year-on-year figures and exceeds the rate of inflation. Four lucky punters each collected $26.88 million when their Triple Trio dreams came true. Two of the winners invested just $2,000 and $4,000. On a day of broken records, the only drop came in attendance. Though 69,627 still happily crammed into the Sha Tin stands and a further 14,969 cross-betting at Happy Valley - that was a fall of 4,000 on last season. Next term the Jockey Club, worried about illegal bookmakers, has elected to absorb a further half percentage point increase in betting tax and Mr Wong pointed out that only the French authorities asked racing for more. 'We are definitely worried about illegal bookmaking and are mindful of our need to keep costs down and to be efficient,' said Mr Wong. 'We are also concerned about the effect the various racing channels being beamed here will have on turnover,' he added. Ivan Allan was champion trainer for the second time. His 54 winners beat Patrick Biancone by six. Basil Marcus, Allan's irrepressible rider, was champion jockey for a fourth time in six seasons, despite coming away from the last meeting with only a third placing from five rides. Simon H. K. Yim made it back-to-back champion apprentice titles and is off to England.
