HK SEPT 8: RECORDS FALL ON OPENING DAY OF THE NEW SEASON AS TURNOVER SURGES TO HK$1.032 BILLION

By Hong Kong Jockey Club | Sunday, September 8, 2013

It was another day of records at Sha Tin racecourse today as Hong Kong’s racing season got off to “more than a dream start” beneath golden sunshine.

Hong Kong SAR Acting Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor struck the ceremonial gong to mark the start of the campaign, and for the second year in a row, record-breaking turnover was matched by an all-time high attendance for the day.

“We have enjoyed another great start to a new season - more than a dream start,” said Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer.

“Moreover, we have had the highest turnover at a season opening in 20 years at $1.032 billion, which is 11% more than a year ago.

“Last year we had the highest opening day attendance in 20 years; this year we have surpassed that with 66,257 race fans generating a fantastic atmosphere at our two racecourses.

“To put that into perspective, today’s crowd figure is up more than 4% on last year and represents the first time that our opening day crowd at Sha Tin has broken the 60,000 mark. Compared with 2010, when we started the Racecourse Master Plan, we have seen an opening day attendance increase of 37%.”

Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges expressed cautious optimism about the season ahead and thanked race fans for their support, which he said was the “impetus for continuous racecourse investment.”

The CEO also applauded the new innovations that have been implemented for this season under the Club’s ongoing Racecourse Master Plan and revealed that the latest round of developments were the subject of “very positive feedback from members and race fans.”

More articles