The Hong Kong Jockey Club posted another turnover record after Sunday season’s finale at Sha Tin, with punters wagering HK$141.1 billion during the 2022-23 campaign.

Turnover reached record heights for the third consecutive season, with this term’s figure representing a 0.5 per cent increase on last year.

“Under such a challenging economic situation, our overall season racing turnover of HK$141.1 billion is very satisfactory,” said Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.

“The strength of the turnover reflects the quality of our products and the ongoing support of our customers. However, we will stay vigilant as there will be significant challenges from offshore bookmakers following the reopening of borders, and also illegal bookmakers.

“To ensure our racing will stay competitive and maintain its world-class status, we will reinvest in racecourse assets and enhance customer experience.”

The season featured 835 races – one fewer than last year – across 88 meetings and the local product attracted HK$129.3 billion in turnover, 0.5 per cent down on last year.

The club’s ever-expanding simulcast programme grew to 299 overseas races – up from 281 last year – and turnover of HK$11.8 billion marked a 12.5 per cent increase on 2021-22.

Sunday’s season finale at a wet and windy Sha Tin capped a campaign that saw Hong Kong racing play its part in the city’s reopening following the pandemic.

The Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) attracted 45,305 fans, a crowd that was the biggest Hong Kong racing had seen in more than three years.

Long touted as a key part of Hong Kong’s reopening to the world, a global HKIR was labelled “one of the best events we have ever had” by Engelbrecht-Bresges.

“I don’t want to say Hong Kong is back, we were never gone, but we are now on the world stage and showing that we are global leaders and can do things very few others can do,” he said at the time.

One of the highlights of the campaign was the Lunar New Year meeting, which pulled in HK$2.06 billion in bets – then the biggest daily take since the 1997 handover – and saw nearly 80,000 people descend on Sha Tin. Remarkably, the Lunar New Year meeting turnover figure was bettered at Sha Tin on Sunday, with HK$2.065 billion wagered on the final meeting of the term.

“What makes Hong Kong’s racing continue during the over three long years of Covid pandemic is resilience,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said. “What makes us effectively leverage the reopening opportunity and grasp every chance to further develop and strengthen Hong Kong’s racing is our inimitable can-do spirit.

“I am proud of the determination, efforts and support of a massive group of stakeholders who love racing, including our owners, trainers, jockeys, club employees and our racing fans.

“I am confident that with the support of the Hong Kong government, Hong Kong’s racing will continue to play a vital role as the most popular sport in the city as well as an international brand of Hong Kong.”

On the track on Sunday, John Size and Zac Purton continued their historic seasons by dominating one final time.

After securing a record 12th trainers’ title on Wednesday, Size tasted success with Fingers Crossed, Leading Fortune, Simple Hedge and Golden Express to finish the campaign on 79 wins.

With the single-season win record already in the bag, Purton landed three more victories to push his finally tally to a remarkable 179 successes.

The action wasn’t quite finished after Sunday’s 11th and final race, either, with Vincent Ho Chak-yiu crowned the season’s Most Popular Jockey and Golden Sixty its Most Popular Horse after a fan vote.

While the Jockey Club is yet to release next term’s fixture, the 2023-24 season is expected to begin on September 10 and conclude on July 13.