When Hong Kong introduced professional horse racing at Happy Valley in 1971, improving the quality of riders
- Hong Kong’s 125-year-old horse racing scene changed in 1971 with the introduction of professional racing
- The motion was unanimously voted in by Hong Kong Jockey Club members, and the first professional race meeting in March 1971 was considered a big success
“A move to some form of professional racing in Hongkong could be just around the corner following the announcement that the Royal Hongkong Jockey Club is sending a five-man team to Kuala Lumpur for the forthcoming Asian Racing Conference on September 18,” reported the South China Morning Post on September 11, 1970.
“Over 300 delegates and observers from 15 countries – Australia, Britain, Cyprus, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, the U.S.A, Malaysia and Hongkong – will meet at the Conference which spans five days.”
On March 17, 1971, the Post reported, “The big move to introduce professional racing at Happy Valley received the ‘all-clear’ from voting members of the Royal Hongkong Jockey Club last night […] The meeting ended after only 40 minutes when the ‘Yes’ brigade was obviously in control of the situation.
“Last night’s big decision to accept professionals is almost certain to change the structure of racing at Happy Valley from the start of the new season. The new minimum scale of weights – at 125lbs [56kg] – seems destined to squeeze out several of the heavier riders and give opportunities to up and coming young jockeys.”
“Professional racing on its first day at Happy Valley yesterday was an outstanding success,” read the Monday Column in the October 11, 1971 issue of the Post. But, “in the eight-race programme, only two favourites – Welcome Back, ridden by Derek Cheng on 6-4 in the first event and Film Boy ridden by ace Australian rider Peter Gumbleton in the third event – obliged.
“It was good to see an overall improvement in the riding of the local riders, notably Stephen Ho on Chances Are and Harrington in one of those near classics of an action-packed afternoon.”
