INSPIRED AUSSIES MADE THE TRIP TO HONG KONG FOR THE RACES AND THEY SIMPLY LOVED THEIR BIG DAY OUT

By Darren Winningham | Monday, April 29, 2019

As you all know horseracingonly (HRO) was present at the LONGINES International Race Day in December 2018.

As part of that coverage we gave away some HKJC and HRO caps to some lucky readers who shared and liked our posts over the LONGINES Carnival.

One of the lucky winners was Gwen Swan who lives at Tamworth in New South Wales.

Gwen and her partner Jim Hartley were so inspired after winning the caps that they planned a trip to Hong Kong to attend the FWD Champion’s Day on Sunday 28 April at Sha Tin racecourse featuring the FWD QEII Cup, the FWD Champions Mile and the Chairman’s Sprint Prize.

Their journey to Hong Kong involved a flight from their home town in Tamworth to Sydney airport and then a nine-and-a-half-hour flight to Hong Kong.

Arriving in Hong Kong they booked accommodation at the Dorsett in Wan Chai close to the Happy Valley racecourse.

WINNO caught up with them at Sha Tin where he presented them with FWD Champion’s Day caps courtesy of the HKJC.

Their first look at the track was all inspiring to them with Jim saying, “it is absolutely massive” and Gwen saying, “Huge – it is exciting to be here”.

“We are here to experience horse racing in Hong Kong – on FWD Champion’s Day. Hopefully Zac Purton ride some winners” Gwen said.

Gwen went on to explain that horseracing is in her blood. Her father Keith Swan was a horse trainer in the North West of NSW for 54 years, based at Somerton about 25 kilometres away from Tamworth. Greg Ryan the NSW Country Champion jockey for many seasons used to ride the horses for Keith.

“He is my brother from another brother” said Gwen about jockey Greg Ryan.

I asked how Gwen had a liking for the Hong Kong Champion jockey Zac Purton. She responded, “Zac has ridden many horses for me, and he was on one of my good ones called Underfoot at Gunnedah”.

Purton as a young apprentice was the Northern Rivers Champion Jockey as an apprentice. He rode his first winner at Armidale and grew up on the mid north coast of NSW at Red Rock.

From these humble beginnings now, Zac Purton is going out to do battle with the world's best horsemen in Hong Kong twice a week. Since moving to Hong Kong in 2007/08 Purton has chalked quite an honours list.

He won the Hong Kong Jockey Club jockey’s premiership in 2013/14 ending the 13-year championship reign of Douglas Whyte and then won again in 2017/18 after a closely fought epic battle with Joao Moreira.

I asked Jim had he been permission from the missus to unload at the races and have a bet. He said, “She has given me $1 WINNO”. I said, “Mate you are in massive trouble – the Hong Kong minimum unit is $10.” I think I can swing her to let me have $50 each way (around HK $275) on the Hong Kong Champion and Zac Purton ride – Beauty Generation”.

They are both such big fans of Zac Purton that they thought he could win the three feature races on FWD Champion’s Day – however, Zac was left without a ride in the Chairman’s Sprint when Mr Stunning was withdrawn with an injury.

The day was a success for Gwen and Jim as they were able to stand trackside and cheer on Zac Purton when he rode the Frankie Lor trained Everyone’s Joy in Race 3 to victory and then again saluted on the Hong Kong Champion Beauty Generation in the FWD Champion’s Mile. He was runner up in the QEII Cup aboard the Tony Cruz trained Exultant.

Gwen has recently moved to Coffs Harbour on the mid-north coast as she is a nurse and has taken on new employment. She is hoping to save some money and make the trip to Hong Kong in December for the LONGINES Hong Kong International Race Day – this is a must do now after experiencing Hong Kong racing at Happy Valley and Sha Tin for the first time.

Despite the recent move she surprised WINNO saying, “I would love to live here – it is my dream”.

WINNO suggested if she was ever able to achieve that dream, she would have to become a Hong Kong Jockey Club member. Gwen said that this would be a goal of hers – living in Hong Kong being a member of the Club and being able to attend the races and enjoy the amazing modern facilities that are offered to members and the general public.

Jim chimed in with “If we lived here WINNO I would just want to be one of them workers holding the tape behind the barriers prior to the commencement of each race.”
Gwen went onto say, “If he is working at the track then I would volunteer to come to the track each day and fill in the holes and sit on a stool and take the weeds out of the running surface”.

She went on to say they went to Happy Valley on Saturday and walked around the track – it is a spectacular facility in the middle of the city “whilst we were there many staff were on stools planting new turf and grass into the holes from the racing on Wednesday night – it goes to show how they look after their tracks and facilities here”.

I was able to catch up with them towards the end of the day where I introduced them to the local Hong Kong track caricature artist Vieri Chan who consented to have some photos taken with the two proud Australians at the Hong Kong races.

There lasting impression of the day was the dominant and exciting win of Beauty Generation ridden by their favourite jockey Zac Purton describing the moment as surreal and breathtaking.

I keep on saying it – if you have never been to Hong Kong and experienced the races at Happy Valley and Sha Tin then it is a must do. The facilities and amenities are world class, regardless of the status of the meeting the racing is competitive, and the experience will live with you for a lifetime.

Here lies the challenge – ask yourself, are you prepared to book that flight and hotel and come to Hong Kong and experience a wonderful culture, friendly people and endure a holiday of a lifetime and follow in the footsteps of Gwen and JIm.

As you have seen, they too highly recommend it!

More articles