Category: Venues

  • Turnbull Stakes Day, Sun Chariot Stakes Day and Gran Premio Latinoamericano to be beamed live for betting

    The Hong Kong Jockey Club will simulcast for betting five races from the Turnbull Day meeting to be held at Flemington racecourse on Saturday, 7 October. The Turnbull Stakes is a 2000m Group One for four-year-olds and older and contested under set weights and penalties conditions.

    The race attained Group 1 status in 2006 and has served as an important lead-up for major prizes of Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival such as the Cox Plate and the Melbourne Cup. The days broadcasting will commence 12.15 Hong Kong time.

    The 2023 running of the Turnbull Stakes promises to draw worldwide attention as Hong Kong’s Middle-Distance champion Romantic Warrior kicks off his overseas campaign here before a tilt at the Cox Plate. The Danny Shum trained superstar will become the first Hong Kong trained runner to contest in Australia since Dominant’s Sydney Cup venture in 2015.

    Sun Chariot Stakes Day from Newmarket in England (Sat 7 Oct – first race 20:30 Hong Kong time)

    Racing action will continue at Newmarket in the evening with the simulcast of the Sun Chariot Stakes and three other supporting races.

    Named after King George VI’s talented racehorse who won the Fillies Triple Crown in 1942 under legendary jockey Gordon Richards, the featured Sun Chariot Stakes is run over 1600m on the Rowley Mile course for the most promising three-year-olds and older fillies and mares. It forms part of the British Champions Series which will conclude at Ascot on 21 October.

    Gran Premio Latinoamericano from San Isidro in Argentina (Sun 8 Oct – 4:45 Hong Kong time)

    In the early morning of Sunday, 8th October, the Gran Premio Latinoamericano will be simulcast live for betting to Hong Kong racing fans for the first time.

    Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1 2000m for 3yo+) is the richest and most important race in Latin America. First run in 1981, the race is run every year in different member countries and participated by the best horses in the Latin America region. San Isidro Racecourse in Buenos Aires of Argentina will play host to the 2023 renewal.

    Final declarations with barrier draws for the Turnbull Stakes Day, the Sun Chariot Stakes Day races and the Gran Premio Latinoamericano will be available on Friday, 6 October.

  • Amelia’s Jewel off to the Toorak Handicap

    Amelia’s Jewel, trained by Simon Miller and holding an impressive record of 11: 9-2-0, is poised to compete in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield.

    Owner Peter Walsh confirmed, “We’re definitely going to the Toorak, I spoke to Simon a few minutes ago, so that’s locked in.”

    This comes after her successful debut in Melbourne and a comfortable win in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes at The Valley, enhancing her reputation.

    “Damian Lane gave me his opinion yesterday, so we’re definitely going to Caulfield as long as we don’t get too much weight,” Walsh added.

    She is priced at $4 in this year’s Cox Plate odds, only shorter than Hong Kong’s champion Romantic Warrior ($3.60).

    Decisions regarding her racing in the Cox Plate (2040m) or the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) in Sydney will be determined post-Toorak.

    “Simon said ‘why do we have to make a decision now? Let’s just wait and see how she goes in The Toorak, see how the internationals go,’” shared Walsh, leaning toward the Golden Eagle but mentioning, “there’s no need to rush into a decision.”

  • Hong Kong racing season is upon us!

    Hong Kong: A Global Hub for Thoroughbred Racing

    Hong Kong has solidified its status as a top international hub for thoroughbred racing, attracting world-class talent to events like the Hong Kong Cup and the Hong Kong Derby, hosted at its iconic racecourses, Happy Valley and Sha Tin.

    Horse racing in Hong Kong traces its roots to the 1840s when the British introduced the sport during the colony’s inception. Happy Valley Racecourse was established in 1845 and became the epicenter of racing on the island, with even rice cultivation being banned to make room for it!

    Hong Kong’s racing scene has drawn foreign trainers and jockeys, notably Australians like John Moore and John Size. Homegrown talents, such as Ricky Yiu and Tony Cruz, have also made their mark.

    The Hong Kong Jockey Club, founded in 1959 and granted a Royal Charter by Queen Elizabeth II, oversees and regulates racing, holding a monopoly on pari-mutuel betting and contributing significantly to the community.

    Highlighting the calendar is Hong Kong International Races Day, featuring prestigious Group 1 races like the Hong Kong Cup. Other events include the Four-Year-Old Classic Series and the Hong Kong Derby, showcasing the city’s commitment to elite racing.

    Hong Kong’s dynamic racing scene has evolved into a global powerhouse, with iconic venues, prestigious races, and a thriving betting culture, making it a must-visit destination for racing enthusiasts and a stage where champions are crowned!

  • Cox Plate leaning for Amelia’s Jewel

    Owner Peter Walsh set a cat amongst the pigeons when he threw Everest plans into the melting pot for his star mare Amelia’s Jew

    On the eve of her interstate kick off at Flemington, Walsh sent social media into a frenzy and gave trainer Simon Miller conniptions.

    Up until that stage the only discussion points for Amelia’s Jewel, publicly anyhow, was the tug of war between Melbourne and Sydney.

    Would the Walsh camp target the G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley or travel up the highway and go for the $10 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill?

    The Everest speculation created media fodder for a few hours, but by Saturday night in the afterglow of Amelia’s Jewel’s Let’s Elope victory, they were shut down.

    Walsh was back on point, declaring no decision will be made until Amelia’s Jewel gets her first sighting of Moonee Valley in Friday week’s Stock Stakes (1600m).

    The Group 2 race is to be the fork in the road for Amelia’s Jewel, but on Melbourne radio this morning (Monday) Walsh gave a clue of what is likely to come.

    “To be honest, if she gets around Moonee Valley well in a fortnight’s time, between Simon and myself, there is nothing like a Cox Plate, is there,” Walsh said.

    “Melbourne is a great place and is the headquarters of racing as far as I’m concerned.

    “It’s a great buzz in Melbourne, Moonee Valley on a Friday night and the grand final Saturday, what a great weekend, you know.

    “As I’ve said, the Cox Plate is the race that everybody wants to win, isn’t it.”

    Amelia’s Jewel has been the darling of WA racing since her scorching two-year-old season, but Walsh has been blown away by the interest in Melbourne.

    “The support there has been fantastic,” Walsh said.

    “It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling that so many people are interested in the horse.

    “I feel very, very lucky.”

    Racing and Sports