Happy Valley Racecourse

Happy Valley Racecourse

Happy Valley Racecourse, also known as Happy Valley Racetrack, is located in Happy Valley, Wan Chai District, Hong Kong Island. Established in 1844 by newly arrived British settlers who drained and cleared a swamp to create a racetrack, it has been in continuous operation ever since and is managed by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Happy Valley Racecourse is Hong Kong’s first racecourse. In the early days of the city’s colonization, the British introduced English-style horse racing. The first official horse race in Hong Kong was held here as early as December 1844. In 1931, the first two three-story permanent grandstands were built at the venue; these were later reconstructed into two seven-story stands in 1957. Further expansions took place in 1969, and by 1995, the racecourse underwent a complete redevelopment to become a world-class all-turf facility. Today, races at Happy Valley Racecourse are typically held on Wednesday evenings, while daytime events have moved to Sha Tin Racecourse. At the end of 2001, the course installed a giant color screen—the world’s largest LED display at a racecourse, measuring approximately 35 meters in length and 8 meters in height.

Since the opening of Sha Tin Racecourse, most major events have been relocated there, with Happy Valley serving as a supplementary venue. The Happy Valley Handicap was once the only graded race held in Hong Kong, but it was downgraded to Class 1/Class 2 status during the 2003–2004 racing season, and no graded races were held for several years. It wasn’t until the 2011–2012 season that the January Cup was elevated to a Hong Kong Grade 3 race. Originally built on wetlands, the surrounding area gradually developed into a built-up urban district, making Happy Valley one of the few urban racecourses in the world. The neighborhood around the track also became known as “Happy Valley,” which is part of Wan Chai District.

Happy Valley Racecourse

Must-visit reason: Hong Kong’s oldest established racecourse

Continent where the attraction is located: Asia 【Asia】

Country/Region where the attraction is located: Hong Kong [Hong Kong]

Province/State where the attraction is located: Wan Chai District [Wan Chai District]