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Editorial | In chasing young fans, Jockey Club must never forget its duty to them
In modernising horse racing and broadening its appeal, the club must also step up efforts to protect the young and support problem gamblers
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Hong Kong’s new horse racing season, which begins on Sunday, comes at a time of transition and expansion for the sport. It needs to get off to a flying start. The Jockey Club, holding a monopoly on legal gambling in the city, has celebrated what CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges described as an “outstanding” financial year.
There was a 5 per cent increase in turnover to more than HK$320 billion, with a record HK$28.8 billion paid in betting duty and profits tax. The club’s Charities Trust approved HK$9 billion in donations. It was a strong performance.
The club has big ambitions, seeking to become a global racing, sports and entertainment brand, attracting young fans and tourists. The strategy will be evident at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday. Two new facilities will be unveiled in a bid to transform the race-day experience. There will be three-dimensional digital displays of champion Hong Kong horses, puzzles, virtual rides and artificial intelligence selfies. Food, drink and souvenirs can be bought from pop-ups. There is also a food hall and a restaurant.
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The new features, part of a HK$14 billion racecourse revitalisation plan, will play a key role in modernising the sport and broadening its appeal. But for all the new attractions, the priority is to maintain the highest standards of horse racing, for which the club is renowned.
It is seeking to play more of a role in mainland China’s equine culture, and its expertise and experience will be valuable. A partnership was recently forged with the sports bureau of Xinjiang, which has China’s biggest horse population. The first meeting at the club’s Conghua course in Guangzhou is scheduled for October 2026.
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The Jockey Club has described its purpose as the betterment of society. That makes it all the more important to demonstrate a strong commitment to the prevention of gambling addiction, which exacts a heavy social cost. The club must – and we trust it will – step up efforts to protect the young and provide support for problem gamblers, especially with the impending introduction of legal betting on basketball.
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