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Sam Agars

Stephy Zhang

A protester calling for a deeper investigation into the Tai Po fire almost cancelled Hong Kong’s richest horse race on Sunday, but even that could not stop Jockey Club boss Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges calling it one of the city’s “greatest days”.
With a record number of tourists making the trip to Sha Tin, and two of the city’s stars cementing their places among the world’s greatest racehorses, not even a drop in turnover could dim the CEO’s delight at the climax of the Hong Kong International Races week.
Romantic Warrior made history by winning the HK$40 million (US$5.14 million) Hong Kong Cup for a fourth time, and with Ka Ying Rising’s victory in the Hong Kong Sprint taking him to within one win of equalling Silent Witness’ city record of 17 straight triumphs, it was a banner day for the sport.
And while fewer people came to see it, with a crowd of 43,993 almost 40 per cent down on last year, more than 13,000 of those travelled from outside the city.
“Today was, in our view, a very, very special day where we saw tremendous sport. We are really proud that we had so many international guests coming,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said.

Turnover dropped marginally, down 3.16 per cent as punters wagered a little more than HK$1.64 billion, although Engelbrecht-Breges said the day was “never about turnover. Today is about world-class sport”.
It was almost about chaos as well, with a man holding a sign referencing the fire at Wang Fuk Court rushing onto the track just as Romantic Warrior and the rest of the Group One field turned for home.
Some quick thinking from Jockey Club starter Chris McMullen to tackle the invader and hold him still while the field thundered past ensured a crisis was averted.
“We had to overcome a significant challenge in light of the tragedy of the Tai Po fire and you can see the emotions in the Hong Kong community are still very deep,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said.
“We had an incident on the track. The person is obviously very aggrieved and he wanted to launch a petition and ask for further inquiries into the deaths caused by the fires.
“One has to take this into consideration when looking at this race day today, but we still believe this was one of the greatest days of Hong Kong racing.”
While the CEO acknowledged that attendance had not been as good “as it normally is”, he hailed the fantastic atmosphere on and off the track, on a day that began with a performance by K-pop star Rain and ended with one from Now United.

Fans from South Africa, Japan, Australia and across mainland China made the trip, with some drawn by the music and others by the chance to see their heroes in action.
Serjio Hot, a RedNote blogger from Guangzhou, was among those who crossed the border “just for my favourite celebrity [Rain]”. He was among those who filled the parade ring to overflowing, and said he planned to stay on to watch some of the racing and maybe place a bet or two.
“I haven’t set a limit for myself. I might start with one or two thousand, and if I get carried away, maybe more,” he said, adding that he planned to attend every year from now on. “The live atmosphere is amazing. It’s like being at a concert.”
Voyage Bubble claimed the Hong Kong Mile for a second year running, adding to the feel-good factor in Sha Tin.
The “poetry in motion” of Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior’s emphatic victory made it a day of “exceptional performances on the track”, according to Engelbrecht-Bresges.
“The importance of this for Hong Kong, one cannot underestimate that this comes at a time where there were significant challenges and this definitely gives people hope,” he said.


Champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising arrives in Australia ahead of The Everest defence

Calmer Little Paradise set to launch Hong Kong Mile mission in Celebration Cup

Douglas Whyte heaps praise on Zac Purton as pair collects race-to-race Happy Valley double

Sunday’s Sha Tin races cancelled due to state funeral for ex-Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa

Hong Kong racing

HKIR ‘one of the greatest days of Hong Kong racing’ despite scary incident with track invader

The track invader is held still while the Group One Hong Kong Cup field approaches at Sha Tin on Sunday. Photo: Sam Tsang

A man ran onto the track during the Hong Kong Cup. Photo: Kenneth Chan

Fans watch the Longines Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin. Photo: Sam Tsang

K-pop star Rain gets Hong Kong races off to electric start, thousands pack into Sha Tin

Kana (left) travelled from Japan just to see Romantic Warrior. Photo: Stephy Zhang

Ka Ying Rising continues march towards Silent Witness’ record with thumping Hong Kong Sprint victory

Ka Ying Rising cruises to victory in the Hong Kong Sprint under Zac Purton. Photos: Kenneth Chan

Connections of Ka Ying Rising celebrate his 16th straight triumph.

Ka Ying Rising surges clear of his rivals.

Trainer David Hayes with the Hong Kong Sprint trophy.

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Hong Kong

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Some quick thinking from Jockey Club starter Chris McMullen ensures a crisis is averted, while record number of tourists attend


Some quick thinking from Jockey Club starter Chris McMullen ensures a crisis is averted, while record number of tourists attend.


Longines Hong Kong International Races

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges

Hong Kong Jockey Club

HKIR ‘one of the greatest days of Hong Kong racing’ despite scary incident with track invader

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Some quick thinking from Jockey Club starter Chris McMullen ensures a crisis is averted, while record number of tourists attend

Some quick thinking from Jockey Club starter Chris McMullen ensures a crisis is averted, while record number of tourists attend