The Hong Kong Jockey Club welcomes the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address announced today (16 October 2024) which promotes horse racing tourism. Hong Kong racing has long been a landmark of the successful implementation of “One Country, Two Systems” in Hong Kong, making important contributions to the economy and livelihood of the city. As Hong Kong advances from stability to prosperity, Hong Kong racing also plays a crucial role.
Photo source：The Hong Kong Jockey Club
The horse racing sport in Hong Kong has enjoyed increasing popularity among tourists, many of who love the Happy Wednesday at Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesdays as well as the race meetings in Sha Tin on Sundays/Saturdays.
Photo source：The Hong Kong Jockey Club
In Season 23/24, we have received a total of 93,000 tourist arrivals. In the first two months of this racing season, there have been more than 27,000 visitor arrivals to our racecourses.
We will fully support and commence discussions with the relevant government departments including Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, Tourism Commission, and Hong Kong Tourism Board to take horse racing tourism forward.
Photo source：The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Hong Kong racing has long been a landmark of the successful implementation of “One Country, Two Systems” in Hong Kong, making important contributions to the economy and livelihood of the city. In 2023/24, The Hong Kong Jockey Club (“the Club”) returned a total of HK$40.1 billion to the community, including HK$29.9 billion to the HKSAR Government in betting duties, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions. Excluding the Lotteries Fund contributions, the Club contributed to a significant 8.3% of the total taxes collected by the Inland Revenue Department in the 2023/24 year of assessment, and HK$10.2 billion in approved charity donations. The Club is Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer and one of the city’s major employers. Its Charities Trust is one of the world’s leading charity donors.
Photo source：The Hong Kong Jockey Club
The horse racing sport in Hong Kong has enjoyed increasing popularity among tourists, many of who love the Happy Wednesday at Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesdays as well as the race meetings in Sha Tin on Sundays/Saturdays. In Season 2023/24, we have received a total of 93,000 tourist arrivals. In the first two months of this racing season, there have been more than 27,000 visitor arrivals to our racecourses. Apart from exciting races, the two racecourses also have a variety of catering offers and engaging on-course entertainment activities to provide an enriched experience that fuses racing and entertainment for the racegoers.
Photo source：The Hong Kong Jockey Club
In Season 2024/25, the Club will be hosting 88 local racedays, including 12 Group 1 races.
The Club maintains on-going communication with the HKSAR Government in actively promoting horse racing tourism. With the aim of providing convenience to families and tourists to experience the horse racing sport and on-course entertainment facilities in an orderly manner, the Club is in discussion with relevant authorities to explore ways to expand the current arrangements to allow Owners and Member guests to bring their family members under the age of 18 to the racecourses on a limited basis.
Photo source：The Hong Kong Jockey Club
The Club has been in strict adherence to the Responsible Gambling Policy, and has stringent underage access controls across all betting channels. The real threat to Hong Kong comes from illegal bookmakers. They do not impose any age restrictions to gamblers, posing serious threat to responsible gambling.
The Club also notes that many racecourses overseas, such as Japan and Australia, allow underage admission. Tokyo Racecourse even blended in horse-related education element. We will fully support and commence discussions with the relevant government departments including Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, Tourism Commission, and Hong Kong Tourism Board as well as other industry stakeholders to take horse racing tourism forward.
