AN EARLY LOOK AT THE LONGINES INTERNATIONAL JOCKEY'S CHAMPIONSHIP AT HAPPY VALLEY

By Darren Winningham | Wednesday, November 30, 2022

THE LONGINES INTERNATIONAL JOCKEY'S CHAMPIONSHIP, HAPPY VALLEY RACES – WEDNESDAY 7 DECEMBER 2022

We are just a week away now from one of the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s major features events - the Hong Kong Longines International Jockeys Championship (IJC).

Here is an early look at what is always an iconic day on the international racing calendar.

Happy Valley is truly one of the wonders of horse racing venues! Located on Hong Kong Island in amongst skyscrapers, financial working buildings and has sporting facilities in the middle of it – it is an amazing and unique venue! Many punters finish work and walk from their offices for a night at the horses!
_____________________________________________________________________

The jockeys participating in this year’s series are:

Mickael Barzalona (France)
Matthew Chadwick (Hong Kong)
Silvestre de Souza (Hong Kong)
Hollie Doyle (Great Britain)
Vincent Ho (Hong Kong)
Jamie Kah (Australia)
Yuga Kawada (Japan)
Tom Marquand (Great Britain)
James McDonald (New Zealand – but we will claim him as an Aussie)
Jye McNeil (Australia)
Ryan Moore (Great Britain)
Zac Purton (Hong Kong)
_____________________________________________________________________

Defending champion Zac Purton – who has won the IJC for the past two years will be out to set a record and win it for the third consecutive year. As you can see tough, as always, he faces some stiff opposition in 2022.

The Longines IJC is held over four races with 12 points issued for a win, six for second and four for third. The jockey with the most is declared the champion.

In recent years the jockey’s allocation has been streamlined with each jockey getting a horse ranked within the betting market across the four selected races.

This year the races allocated are: Race 4 ... Race 5 ... Race 7 ... and race 8

They are riding for a prize pool of HK$800.000.

Who will reign supreme in 2022? Will have a better idea once the horses are allocated to the riders on Monday morning December 5.

The ceremony will be held in the Sha Tin Racecourse Jockey Club Box.

More articles