Racing for The Betterment of Our Society
Since the beginning of the year, when COVID-19 started to grip the city, Hong Kong has changed beyond recognition. The Hong Kong Jockey Club is no exception.
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Though racing has continued, the Club has significantly reduced attendance, from an average of around 22,000 before the outbreak to an average of approximately 400 in March.
Since 1 April, in response to the government’s latest regulation on the prohibition of group gatherings, the Club has further reduced attendance, with an average of around 300 horse owners and accompanying guests now attending race meetings.
So why is racing continuing? Well one has only to recall the famous quote of Deng Xiaoping, China’s late paramount leader, who declared before 1997 that “horse racing will continue”, to understand that racing is a symbol of the lifestyle of Hong Kong people.
“Continuing racing sends messages to the world about the uniqueness and resilience of Hong Kong in dealing with difficulties and overcoming them. This is the ‘can do’ spirit our city is famous for,” says the Club’s CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges. “We are also very mindful that by continuing racing we can keep supporting the community, which is the Club’s whole purpose.”
Together We Fight the Virus
Having been part of Hong Kong for 135 years, with its sole purpose being the betterment of society, the Club is deeply committed to the community at this time of greatest need.
Indeed, as Hong Kong’s single largest taxpayer and one of the world’s top ten charity donors, the Club has always been a major contributor. In 2018/19, the Club paid HK$23.3 billion in betting duty and profits tax to the Hong Kong government, roughly equivalent to the government’s recurrent expenditure on primary education. In the same year, the Club approved HK$4.3 billion in charity donations.
The Club is working no less hard during the current crisis. Over the past three months horse race betting turnover has been maintained at over HK$1 billion per race meeting, while betting duty has been more than HK$100 million per meeting.
In addition to measures to protect the health of employees and customers, the Club is also supporting efforts to protect public health and to help the most vulnerable members of society.
The Club had sourced or funded the purchase of over 14 million face masks for those in need, including 1.68 million masks directly sourced and supplied by the Club to the Hospital Authority and to vulnerable groups.
A special HK$100 million emergency fund is helping NGOs provide urgent support to disadvantaged groups hard hit by the virus. Club-funded care packs containing hygiene and essential food items are being supplied to the homebound elderly and disabled and the low-incomed. Responding to the needs of local students who need to study at home, the Club is providing free mobile internet data bandwidth to 100,000 needy children for up to four months. In total the Club has approved HK$196 million in relief measures as of 25 April.
An Engine That Can’t Be Stopped
“Horse racing in Hong Kong is a big engine that can’t be stopped,” says the Club’s Chairman Dr Anthony Chow. “A lot of professional jockeys, trainers and related personnel are from overseas. If the engine is stopped, Hong Kong would lose these assets and it would be very difficult to ask them to come back in the future.”
This is not to mention the Club’s over 21,000 full-time and part-time employees, plus many others who rely upon racing for their livelihoods.
A more staggering figure is the number of racing fans in Hong Kong, with TV racing broadcasts providing essential “stay-home” entertainment to more than one million fans. In other words at a time when we are being urged to practise social distancing, racing is helping to keep one seventh of Hong Kong’s population at home.
An International Racing Hub
Maintaining Hong Kong racing also carries significant benefits for Hong Kong’s global position and profile. Broadcast to over 30 racing jurisdictions, Hong Kong racing is an essential part of the global racing calendar. Through the Club’s more than 50 commingling partnerships it also generates substantial overseas income, with turnover of HK$19 billion last year; all of which is to the benefit of the Hong Kong community.
Standing By Our Community
At the Club we have always stood by Hong Kong, and in these challenging times we are no less determined. We will maintain our racing and the support it provides to the community, implementing all necessary measures to safeguard public health at our racecourses. We will also continue to do everything we can to support the community and its most vulnerable members through the difficult days that lie ahead.
Measures to mitigate public health risks at racecourses
- All jockeys tested for COVID-19 four times a week
- All attendees must undergo temperature screening and complete a health declaration form before admittance.
- No admittance to anyone who has travelled overseas within 14 days before a race day
- All attendees must wear face masks
- Only one designated owner representing each horse is allowed to enter the Parade Ring with the trainer, jockey and assistant trainer of the horse concerned.
- All groups must maintain at least 1.5 metres social distance inside the Parade Ring
- No photo-taking of the winning horse and owners at the Winning Arch after each race.
- All racecourse catering facilities must operate in full compliance with the requirements issued by the Secretary for Food and Health for catering businesses.
Why is horse racing continuing in Hong Kong?
