Record tourist numbers flock to ‘one of the best race meetings ever’ on Champions Day at Sha Tin
Officials hail city’s second-biggest race meeting of the year a big success, with betting turnover skyrocketing
The record number of tourists who descended on Sha Tin on Sunday were treated to another dominant display from superstar Ka Ying Rising, music from a K-pop star and a race meeting Jockey Club chief Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges called one of the “best ever in Hong Kong”.
On a day when the city’s elite proved more than a match for the rest, the 13,000 visitors who made the trip from mainland China watched the horse considered the best sprinter there is take an incredible 20th consecutive victory, while local favourites Romantic Warrior and My Wish made it an FWD Champions Day to remember.
“Today was an absolutely special day,” Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the HKJC CEO, said. “I believe this was one of the best, if not the best race meetings ever in Hong Kong.”
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Ka Ying Rising secures a record-extending 20th victory
While the club said attendance was down a fraction, a crowd of 40,000 produced turnover of a little less than HK$1.8 billion, which it said was an 18.3 per cent increase.
“But what we are really doing is from the sporting side and I believe this was, what we humbly say, is the greatest show on turf,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said. “This is what we aim for, this is what we want to achieve in the Jockey Club – to create a global racing event.
“Our whole policy of equine tourism, we think we are on track there and you will see we are doing more around this.”
The tourism side included Korean singer Hwasa, of girl group Mamamoo, and fans had packed the parade ring to capacity long before she launched into her three-song set, after local star Pakho Chau got things started.
Visitors came from further afield as well, with couple Hiroto and Yuki Hattori there to support Japan favourites Masquerade Ball and Jantar Mantar.