Horse racing boosts mega event economy: CE

Chief Executive John Lee has praised horse racing as an integral part of Hong Kong's cultural identity and a significant contributor to the city's mega event economy. On Sunday, he attended a Sha Tin Racecourse ceremony marking the beginning of the new racing season and awarded the Chief Executive's Cup trophy. In a Facebook post, Lee highlighted that the season opener attracted both local racing enthusiasts and visitors, as well as a substantial increase in tourists from mainland China and overseas.

During the previous season, over 400,000 visitors from these regions flocked to Sha Tin and Happy Valley racecourses, doubling the number from the prior year. Lee attributed this surge to the government's promotional efforts for horse racing tourism, as outlined in the 2024 Policy Address. He further emphasized that the SAR government would continue to attract tourists through mega events.

Tourists who visited Sha Tin Racecourse expressed their enthusiasm for the experience. Sophia, a tourist from Sydney, shared that she had heard positive feedback about Ka Ying Rising, the top sprinter and Chief Executive's Cup winner, and was delighted to witness the horse in action. Ethan, another tourist, expressed excitement for Ka Ying Rising's future races, including the upcoming Everest, where he anticipates seeing the horse once again.

In the Chief Executive's Cup race, Ka Ying Rising, ridden by Australian jockey Zac Purton and trained by David Hayes, set a new course record with a time of 1 minute and 6.11 seconds, marking its 21st consecutive victory. Despite local horses like Fast Network, Gorgeous Win, Self Improvement, and Beauty Waves attempting to make a mark on the global stage, they all fell short, finishing unplaced at the Korea Sprint in Seoul.