CEO'S ATTITUDE EPITOMISES HONG KONG SUCCESS STORY

By Graham Potter and Darren Winningham | Tuesday, December 3, 2024

You would be hard-pressed to believe that the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges carries much of the weight of running arguably the world’s most efficiently organised racing precinct on his shoulders.

Engelbrecht-Bresges’ notable affable approach when engaging with all sectors of the racing industry stems from a very real confidence of a man completely sure of exactly what the Hong Kong Club is about … continually setting goals, raising standards and, most importantly, always making sure to look after its customers.

And that confidence finds further security in the fact that the positive culture that Engelbrecht-Bresges has helped create within the Jockey Club, flows through to each department and each worker so everyone feels part of the team and, as such are eager to contribute to the cause.

HRO’s Darren Winningham had the pleasure of speaking to Engelbrecht-Bresges at Sha Tin today where the Club CEO was as engaging, and as insightful, as ever.

“Horse racing here, is now government endorsed as a tourist attraction,” Engelbrecht-Bresges told Winno. “So, therefore, we have to show a value for tourism through horseracing and go all out to make it even more welcoming.

“We are very happy to have Longines as part of that. It is good that we have a brand like Longines who endorses horseracing as a sport, not only here … but you can look at their importance in global racing and how they connect globally.

“They are a brand which links to our values, so we are very grateful to be in partnership with them and the International Horse Racing Federation.”

Winno then asked about the returning Aussie connection.

“If you call it the Global Turf Championships … it is difficult to do that without Australian horses … so we are very happy that after Covid and adjusting schedules, Australia are back … which I think is great,” Engelbrecht-Bresges told Winno.

“We had Romantic Warrior running in Australia and now we have these horses coming here, so we look forward to even more exchanges in the future. It is an important relationship.

“It is just so good to have so many friends from around the world coming to Hong Kong.”

A crowd of 75 000 is expected at Sha Tin on Sunday.

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