K-pop star Rain gets Hong Kong races off to electric start, thousands pack into Sha Tin

Tens of thousands of racing fans packed into Sha Tin on Sunday for the climax of the Longines Hong Kong International Races week, hoping to see stars like Romantic Warrior and Ka Ying Rising add to their storied reputations.

Visitors from South Africa, Japan, Australia and mainland China mixed with celebrities such as Chinese actor Yu Shi and local dignitaries, in the largest gathering in the city for a sporting occasion since the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po claimed the lives of at least 160 people last month.

But many Hong Kong government officials who had been expected to attend opted against doing so, as the city continues to recover from the tragedy.

For those who did go through the gates, K-pop star Jung Ji-hoon, who performs under the stage name Rain, got things started with a 20-minute appearance, during which he performed songs such as “La Song” and “Rainism”.

Serjio Hot, a RedNote blogger from Guangzhou, was among those who made the trip from across the border “just for my favourite celebrity”. He was alongside those who filled the parade ring to overflowing, and said he planned to stay on to watch some of the racing and maybe place a bet or two.

“I haven’t set a limit for myself. I might start with one or two thousand, and if I get carried away, maybe more,” he said, adding that he plans to come every year from now on. “The live atmosphere is amazing. It’s like being at a concert.”