The Lunar Dragon Year horse racing event commenced on the 25th at Sha Tin Racecourse, but both betting turnover and attendance were affected by the cold weather, resulting in a drop compared to the previous year. A total of HK$1.222 billion was wagered across 11 races that day, and the two racecourses, Sha Tin and Happy Valley, together drew 78,136 attendees, marking declines of 3.1% and 18.6% respectively from last year. Nevertheless, the betting figure remains the second highest in nine years.
Despite the chilly and at times rainy weather, the enthusiasm of racegoers was undampened. Many arrived dressed in elaborate outfits, and some even formed cheer squads to rally for their favorite horses. Coupled with a series of events organized by the Jockey Club, the atmosphere at the venue remained lively. Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges believes the cold weather affected the public’s willingness to attend and place bets, but he expressed satisfaction with the betting figures, calling it a good start to the new year and anticipating an 8% increase in full-season betting turnover compared to the previous season.
The 25th marked the coldest Lunar New Year’s Day in Hong Kong in the past 16 years, with temperatures in Sha Tin dipping as low as 6 degrees Celsius and light drizzle falling. Still, over 70,000 racegoers turned out to watch the races, filling many areas of Sha Tin Racecourse to capacity. Fans spun the windmills set up around the venue or took photos with the Jockey Club’s “God of Fortune,” hoping to boost their luck and prosperity. After Financial Secretary John Tsang, Jockey Club Chairman Ronald Arculli, and CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges initiated the lion dance by dotting the eyes of the lions and officiated the opening ceremony, jockeys paraded to wish the crowd a happy new year, officially launching the festive racing event. The Jockey Club also arranged performances by singers Ada Kwan and Kate Tsui, who sang celebratory songs on-site.
The results of all 11 races were fairly predictable, with most winners being the favorites. Several “lucky horses” also performed well—for instance, “Gōnghei Fōchoi” (Congratulations and Prosperity) claimed victory in the 5th race, drawing loud cheers from the crowd. Other “auspicious” horses such as “Gin Wong Choi,” “Choi San Daai Dou,” and “Fung Ji Zuk Sik” also secured third-place finishes in their respective races, likely giving many racegoers a lucky start to the new year.
The spotlight races were the Hong Kong Classic Mile, held as the 8th race, and the Lunar New Year Cup, the 10th race. The former featured 10 top-tier 4-year-old horses, with fans forming their own cheer teams and holding banners to support their picks. In the end, “Sweet Orange,” ridden by Joao Moreira, beat the favorite “Imperatriz” to take the title. The Lunar New Year Cup was won by “Splendid Days,” with Financial Secretary John Tsang presenting the trophy.
Mr. Cheng, a frequent visitor to the races, said the atmosphere was slightly less vibrant than last year, attributing it to the cold weather. He won a few hundred dollars throughout the day, saying, “A good start is very important.” He noted that due to expectations of a slowing economy, he would reduce his betting amount this year to save more. Mr. Ho stated that his betting wouldn’t be affected by the economic climate and that he would even use part of the government’s HK$6,000 handout to place bets. Mr. Wang from Shenzhen mentioned that he often comes to Hong Kong to bet at the races, usually wagering a few thousand dollars each time, focusing mainly on long shots. Meanwhile, the day’s massive Triple Trio draw attracted over HK$22 million in wagers, with a total of 3.6 winning tickets, each paying out over HK$9 million for a HK$10 stake.
Despite the chilly and at times rainy weather, the enthusiasm of racegoers was undampened. Many arrived dressed in elaborate outfits, and some even formed cheer squads to rally for their favorite horses. Coupled with a series of events organized by the Jockey Club, the atmosphere at the venue remained lively. Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges believes the cold weather affected the public’s willingness to attend and place bets, but he expressed satisfaction with the betting figures, calling it a good start to the new year and anticipating an 8% increase in full-season betting turnover compared to the previous season.
The 25th marked the coldest Lunar New Year’s Day in Hong Kong in the past 16 years, with temperatures in Sha Tin dipping as low as 6 degrees Celsius and light drizzle falling. Still, over 70,000 racegoers turned out to watch the races, filling many areas of Sha Tin Racecourse to capacity. Fans spun the windmills set up around the venue or took photos with the Jockey Club’s “God of Fortune,” hoping to boost their luck and prosperity. After Financial Secretary John Tsang, Jockey Club Chairman Ronald Arculli, and CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges initiated the lion dance by dotting the eyes of the lions and officiated the opening ceremony, jockeys paraded to wish the crowd a happy new year, officially launching the festive racing event. The Jockey Club also arranged performances by singers Ada Kwan and Kate Tsui, who sang celebratory songs on-site.
The results of all 11 races were fairly predictable, with most winners being the favorites. Several “lucky horses” also performed well—for instance, “Gōnghei Fōchoi” (Congratulations and Prosperity) claimed victory in the 5th race, drawing loud cheers from the crowd. Other “auspicious” horses such as “Gin Wong Choi,” “Choi San Daai Dou,” and “Fung Ji Zuk Sik” also secured third-place finishes in their respective races, likely giving many racegoers a lucky start to the new year.
The spotlight races were the Hong Kong Classic Mile, held as the 8th race, and the Lunar New Year Cup, the 10th race. The former featured 10 top-tier 4-year-old horses, with fans forming their own cheer teams and holding banners to support their picks. In the end, “Sweet Orange,” ridden by Joao Moreira, beat the favorite “Imperatriz” to take the title. The Lunar New Year Cup was won by “Splendid Days,” with Financial Secretary John Tsang presenting the trophy.
Mr. Cheng, a frequent visitor to the races, said the atmosphere was slightly less vibrant than last year, attributing it to the cold weather. He won a few hundred dollars throughout the day, saying, “A good start is very important.” He noted that due to expectations of a slowing economy, he would reduce his betting amount this year to save more. Mr. Ho stated that his betting wouldn’t be affected by the economic climate and that he would even use part of the government’s HK$6,000 handout to place bets. Mr. Wang from Shenzhen mentioned that he often comes to Hong Kong to bet at the races, usually wagering a few thousand dollars each time, focusing mainly on long shots. Meanwhile, the day’s massive Triple Trio draw attracted over HK$22 million in wagers, with a total of 3.6 winning tickets, each paying out over HK$9 million for a HK$10 stake.
