The success of the Hong Kong International Races may have had its origins back in the late 1980s, but it was at a high-level strategic planning meeting in 1998 that the real vision was spun. Even at that stage, the evolution had been spectacular, beginning with a single race (Hong Kong Cup) in 1987 and growing to a three-event day by 1994.
But after the 1997 December showcase at Sha Tin, the Jockey Club set itself a five-year plan - with a vision to expand the meeting to become the turf world championships.
'Intensifying the globalisation' is the way the Jockey Club's executive director of racing, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, puts it.
'It was a decision to strategically position Hong Kong racing for the future. We made it clear we wanted to develop International Day to an even higher level.
'We wanted to present the best possible sport of horse racing for our customers.'
A fourth race, the Sprint (1,000 metres), was introduced. The Hong Kong Bowl (1,400 metres) was revamped to become the Hong Kong Mile (1,600 metres). And the Cup was stretched from 1,800 metres to 2,000 metres, thereby qualifying it as a leg of the World Racing Series. The fourth race, the Vase, remained at the so-called 'classic distance' of 2,400 metres.
