3 minute read
A feast of top-level equestrian sport and entertainment kept spectators thrilled last night (15 February) at the opening night of the Longines Masters of Hong Kong 2019
Especially when two home-grown equestrian stars took on some of the world’s best in the HKJC Trophy, as well as their top regional rivals in the parallel HKJC Asian Challenge. Local fans were especially excited to see HKJC Equestrian Team members Raena Leung and Jacqueline Lai put in top-class performances to finish second and third respectively in the HKJC Asian Challenge.
The Masters, with The Hong Kong Jockey Club as a Founding Partner, is now in its seventh edition and will continue at AsiaWorld-Expo until Sunday. The HKJC Asian Challenge, HKJC Asian Junior Challenge and HKJC Asian Junior Grand Prix are new milestones in promoting equestrian development in the region and will give some of Asia’s promising young riders the chance to experience top-level international competition.
“This is Asia’s largest and most prestigious five-star jumping competition and The Hong Kong Jockey Club has been pleased to support it from its very first edition,” observed Club Chairman Dr Anthony W K Chow, speaking at last night’s opening ceremony. “Each year we have the privilege of seeing some of the world’s finest horses and riders in action. We also enjoy events like the HKJC Race of the Riders, which celebrates Hong Kong’s long heritage of horse sports.” He added that the new HKJC Asian Challenge provided riders from across Asia with a unique opportunity to showcase their talent against the world’s best equestrians.
In the prestigious HKJC Trophy, Olivier Philippaerts from Belgium beat 28 local and international rivals to take the coveted title. Meanwhile Raena Leung and Jacqueline Lai carried Hong Kong’s hopes in the inaugural HKJC Asian Challenge, run in parallel with the HKJC Trophy, where they took on four other top riders from China, Japan and South Korea. The Challenge was eventually won by Hikari Yoshizawa from Japan with HKJC Equestrian Team members Raena Leung and Jacqueline Lai finishing runner-up and third respectively, the trio sharing prize money of HK$250,000 between them.
“The Jockey Club helps us a lot with our overseas training and competition expenses, so it’s really nice that we have this new opportunity to show the local fans what we’ve achieved,” said an excited Leung. Lai added that it had been an amazing experience to compete in Hong Kong against some of the top regional and international riders. “I’m very grateful to the Jockey Club for making this opportunity possible and hope it can continue next year,” she said.
The HKJC Race of the Riders – a unique relay contest in which four Hong Kong-based Jockeys paired up with four top local and international equestrian stars – saw victory for the partnership of Jockey Neil Callan and equestrian rider Simon Delestre from France. “The horse skills involved in jumping fences are a lot different from flat racing, so I’m very grateful to Simon for his help and delighted to be successful,” said Callan. “Many thanks to the Jockey Club for giving me this opportunity.”
Also demonstrating her skills at last night’s event was another local sporting heroine, HKJC Equestrian Team member Jacqueline Siu, who once again teamed up with her Club-sponsored horse Jockey Club Fuerst on Tour to reprise the dressage performance that won the pair a gold medal at the Asian Games in Indonesia last August – Hong Kong’s first ever equestrian gold medal in the Asian Games. With Siu adding special lighting, music and stage effects to the routine this time, it proved a real treat for the home crowd.
Among the excited opening night audience were a group of local students and less privileged residents, all being given their first taste of top-level equestrian sport thanks to the Club sponsoring their admission fees and transport.
Asia Horse Week praised as a “highly productive discussion”
Among those enjoying Friday evening’s sporting action were some 50 representatives from equestrian federations, horse clubs and the equine industry worldwide who have been taking part in the Asia Horse Week conference, exchanging views with their regional and international counterparts and discussing strategies for the sport’s further development in Asia.
Club Chairman Dr Anthony W K Chow said at the conference closing ceremony that it had been two days of highly productive discussion and debate on the future of equine sport. “We have learned about the new technologies which are shaping the future of horse breeding. We have discussed some of the important issues impacting on horse health and welfare, and we have learned more about developments in equestrian sport across the region,” he commented.
Today’s Longines Masters programme will include the HKJC Asian Junior Challenge, in which Edgar Fung and Vincent Capol – both members of the HKJC Junior Equestrian Training Squad – will carry Hong Kong hopes in competition with young riders from Guangdong, Chinese Taipei and Indonesia. Fung represented Hong Kong in last year's Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires and Capol in the Asian Equestrian Federation Junior Championships in Taipei. On Sunday the same two local riders will contest the HKJC Junior Grand Prix over a different course, featuring higher fences. Jacqueline Siu’s dressage demonstration will be repeated on both days.
From its roots as a horse racing and riding club established in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has played a major role in the city’s equestrian sport development over the years. Its public riding schools, which opened in the 1970s, now attract some 80,000 local visitors of all ages each year to learn riding skills and horse care. Equestrian sport gained in popularity following the equestrian events of the Beijing 2008 Olympics, held in Hong Kong with the Club’s support. The HKJC Equestrian Team and HKJC Junior Equestrian Training Squad were established by the Club in the same year with the aim of developing the potential of Hong Kong’s most talented riders. Several of its members have since won medals in international competitions. The Club also launched the Hong Kong Equestrian Performance Plan in 2016. This merit-based programme is designed to nurture the city’s high-performing riders as they strive for equestrian excellence on the world stage.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class racing club that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charity and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2017/18, the Club made a record return to the Government of HK$22.6 billion in duty and profits tax and contributed HK$1.2 billion to the Lotteries Fund. Approved charity donations were HK$4.2 billion. The Club is Hong Kong's largest single taxpayer and one of the city’s major employers. Its Charities Trust is also one of the world's top ten charity donors. The Club is always "riding high together for a better future" with the people of Hong Kong. Please visit www.hkjc.com.
