Racing in Hong Kong needs little introduction these days, especially as a host of familiar names ply their trade there and can be seen competing twice a week on Sky Sports Racing with racecards published in the Racing Post.
They include Andrea Atzeni and Harry Bentley, who have in recent years established themselves in the weighing rooms of Sha Tin and Happy Valley, which are now home to David Probert and Richard Kingscote.
Hollie Doyle and Dylan Browne McMonagle are set to join them through the winter, while world-class talents Maxime Guyon and James McDonald will also have spells riding in Hong Kong, where expat Brit David Eustace trains. That’s nothing new; Lester Piggott, the jockey all others before and since are measured against, made regular trips to the Far East during his illustrious career, Mick Kinane did too when he was at the peak of his powers and Frankie Dettori might have as well but for an infamous police caution, while Peter Chapple-Hyam had saddled a Derby hero before his time there.
What has changed in the last few years is the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s (HKJC) decision to open its doors to non-residential, international owners.
It might seem a no-brainer – think where British racing would be without foreign investment – but the authority has not become one of the most successful jurisdictions in the world by making rash decisions and the pool of people allowed in remains limited; it also possesses “comprehensive background checks” that support the organisation’s “uncompromising integrity standards” according to Andrew Harding, its Executive Director of Racing.
“The elite international ownership scheme is part of this multipronged approach and is consistent with the quintessentially international character of Hong Kong racing,” he says. “A small number of prominent overseas owners have been selected under a set of criteria which are based on, but not limited to, track record, integrity, history, commitment to invest in potential world-class racehorses and involvement in breeding.”
The aim?
“To continuously strengthen Hong Kong’s horse composition which is a key component to its world-class racing product,” he adds. So, in 2022, Zhang Yuesheng, a Chinese entrepreneur and self-made billionaire whose horses include Dewhurst winner Gewan, and Mary Slack, a major figure in South African racing who landed the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot with Claymore in 2022, ushered in a new dawn by joining the owners’ list, which had been occupied solely by members of the HKJC.
It was described as a “very cautious”, step-by-step approach and one that would not result in an opening of the floodgates. Since then, Andreas Jacobs, who co-bred and part-owned 2019 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe ace Waldgeist among other notable success in the sport, and Sir Peter Vela, who captured the 2001 Melbourne Cup with Ethereal and also raced the talented Eminent in Britain, were added.
Eleven owners now admitted as members of the HKJC
Shunsuke Yoshida, whose father Katsumi owns Japanese breeding and racing behemoth Northern Farm, which has Sunday Racing – think the red, black and yellow silks of Gentildonna and Orfevre – as an offshoot, has also been welcomed.
“As of October 2025, we have admitted 11 international owners from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Germany, Japan, and Singapore,” continues Harding, who re-echoed the point that international ownership in Hong Kong is “deliberately kept on a small scale”.
The goal was to widen the global reach of Hong Kong racing, although it came at a time when an ageing pool of owners might have lost interest during the Covid pandemic and its restrictions, and not reinvested, contributing to a declining horse population. That was something identified by HKJC supremo Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, one of the most powerful racing administrators on the planet, in 2023, while recruitment from abroad – there is no breeding in Hong Kong or apparent desire to have it – may also have become harder.
Tony Millard, who trained Slack’s first Hong Kong runner Wings Of War, has highlighted the growth and strength of syndicates in Australia and their ability to say no to a big offer for a horse as another problem.
That is something Harding touched on when revealing that despite being the envy of almost every other racing nation, Hong Kong – a driver of lucrative commingling betting pools worldwide – has not been immune to issues that go much further than the industry. “Over the past few years, the general global economic climate has been challenging,” he adds. “Notably, geopolitical tensions, developments of trade war and economic volatility have contributed to an increasingly uncertain outlook.
“This is compounded by intense global competition for high-quality horses, increased yearling prices, and emergence of syndicate ownership arrangements in major markets.
“Consequently, it is essential for the Club to maintain investment in prize-money and special bonuses to encourage ownership and continuous investment in quality horses, as well as to create opportunities for the younger generation to experience the prestige associated with ownership in Hong Kong.”
Founded in 1884, the HKJC has become a world-leader in the sport, particularly in the last three decades when its profile and reputation has soared.
It hosts 12 Group 1 races in its calendar and prize-money across around 840 races this term is set at HK$1.74 billion, while betting turnover for last season was HK$138.85bn, approximately £13.2bn and not an unsurprising sum when one considers the enthusiasm locals have for gambling.
The October batch of official world rankings showed just five horses were rated superior to domestically trained stars Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior, who both triumphed when Hong Kong staged its annual international meeting at Sha Tin last December.
The acclaimed fixture regularly attracts the traditional superpowers from Europe and the cream of Japan’s crop, while Happy Valley is set against a stunning, inner-city skyline and is one of the most breathtaking racecourses in the world.
In October 2026, Conghua will feature as a a third venue in the programme
In October 2026, a third venue will feature in the HKJC programme as Conghua, which is in mainland China and was completed as a training centre in 2018, will open for business, providing races for the country’s 1,300 horses.
It is blessed with all of the modern facilities expected of a new track in the region, while the grandstand has been designed by architects Herzog & de Meuron, renowned for the ‘Bird’s Nest’ stadium used for the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and the Tate Modern.
Conghua, Harding stresses, is an example of the regulator’s wide-ranging commitment to improving its product and offering, which has its 3,000-plus owners at its core, albeit plans are in place to recruit new blood.
Developing new ownership concepts for members who are potential owners and accelerating those with aspirations to be is one strategic lever, as are educational programmes, promotional events and additional support for sourcing and buying horses.
Incentivising continued participation and contribution among existing owners is viewed as another way to strengthen the framework, while enhancing services, venues and racecourse experience is also part of the layered thinking.
“Cultivating the next generation of racehorse owners is a key priority,” Harding goes on. “For the tech-savvy segment, we have recently launched the Owners App, enabling owners to access real-time updates on their horses and conveniently reserve racecourse facilities, which is particularly beneficial for owners with starters in upcoming meetings.
the importance of appealing to a younger or different demographic
“The Club regularly organises talks and workshops to introduce the ownership experience to members and the next generation of existing owners. We also offer personalised consultation services to support owners in purchasing horses. Our dedicated acquisition team sources and procures quality horses globally, making them available to members through the Hong Kong International Sales. This service streamlines the acquisition process for owners, eliminating the need for overseas travel to auctions and supporting novice owners who may lack experience or industry connections.”
Outlining the importance of appealing to a younger or different demographic Harding continues: “We recognise that racehorse ownership represents a significant investment, particularly for individuals without established connections or for younger members. To address this, the Club is currently considering the establishment of Club-managed syndicates, thereby creating opportunities for members to acquire fractional shares and experience the benefits of horse ownership.”
Governing bodies in racing can, at times, be accused of burying their heads in the sand in terms of change and innovation and, although the HKJC appears welded to capping its non-residential owners, it has, intriguingly, been credited with helping smooth out the Randwick South Africa faced exporting horses because of African Horse Sickness.
“The Club has been committed to assisting South Africa to achieve improved arrangements for exporting its horses, and the potential exists for this to become a valuable additional market for Hong Kong’s owners,” explains Harding. “Notably, a number of prominent Hong Kong owners have invested in stallions and breeding farms abroad, further strengthening international ties within the industry.”
That’s one way of increasing the horse population and international appeal, and partnerships with more than 70 commingling operators across 26 countries and jurisdictions show the HKJC knows plenty about that, even if it’s not yet ready to open for every owner.
