Sha Tin Racecourse Covered Parade Ring 2014

Sha Tin Racecourse Level 1 Public Betting Hall 2014

Sha Tin Racecourse is one of the two

racecourse A race track (racetrack, racing track or racing circuit) is a facility built for racing of vehicles, athletes, or animals (e.g. horse racing or greyhound racing). A race track also may feature grandstands or concourses. Race tracks are also us ...

s for horse racing in

Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delta i ...

. It is located in

Sha Tin Sha Tin, also spelt Shatin, is a neighbourhood along Shing Mun River in the eastern New Territories, Hong Kong. Administratively, it is part of the Sha Tin District. Sha Tin is one of the neighbourhoods of the Sha Tin New Town project. The ...

in the

New Territories The New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory, and contains around half of the population of Hong Kong. Historically, it ...

. It is managed by

Hong Kong Jockey Club The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) is one of the oldest institutions in Hong Kong, having been founded in 1884. In 1959, it was granted a Royal Charter and renamed The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club (). The institution reverted to its original name ...

. Penfold Park is encircled by the track, and the

Hong Kong Sports Institute The Hong Kong Sports Institute () is a sports institute located in Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong. It is mandated to provide training to athletes, and also offers academic qualification in the field of sports training. The institute sponsors ...

is located immediately south of the property.

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...

planned to perform at the racecourse on his

Dangerous World Tour The Dangerous World Tour was the second world concert tour by American singer Michael Jackson to promote his eighth studio album '' Dangerous.'' The tour was sponsored by Pepsi-Cola. All profits were donated to various charities including Jack ...

, which was the start of the third leg, but was cancelled due to the conflict of the racing season.

History

It was built in 1978 (under the administration of Sir David Akers-Jones, the then-Secretary for the New Territories) on reclaimed land and is the larger of the two tracks in

. The course has 474 races per season including: *

Hong Kong Cup The Hong Kong Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Hong Kong which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 2000 metres (about miles or 10 furlongs) at Sha Tin, and it is scheduled to take place each year ...

* Hong Kong Mile * Hong Kong Sprint *

Hong Kong Vase The Hong Kong Vase is a Group 1 flat horse race in Hong Kong which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres (about miles or 12 furlongs) at Sha Tin, and it is scheduled to take place each year ...

* Centenary Sprint Cup *

Hong Kong Stewards' Cup The Stewards' Cup is a Hong Kong Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the latter part of January at Sha Tin Racecourse. A Group One race that offers a purse of HK$12,000,000, it is run on turf over a distance of 1600 meters and is open ...

Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup The Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup is a set weights Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race in Hong Kong, run over 1400 metres, with the total purse of HK$10m in 2014/15, approximately US$1.3m. In the season of 2005/06, it was upgraded to Group 1 status and h ...

* Hong Kong Gold Cup *

Hong Kong Derby The Hong Kong Derby is a Hong Kong Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1873. Restricted to horses four-years-old only since 1981, the race is run in mid-March and is the premier event on the domestic racing programme with a purse of HK$18 m ...

Queen Elizabeth II Cup The Queen Elizabeth II Cup is a Group One Thoroughbred horse race at Sha Tin Racecourse in the New Territories, Hong Kong. Established in 1975 by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, it is run annually in April at a distance of 2,000 metres (ten ...

Champions Mile The Champions Mile is a Group 1 flat horse race in Hong Kong for three-year-old and above thoroughbreds run over a distance of 1,600 metres (approximately 1 mile) on the turf at Sha Tin Racecourse with the total purse of HK$14m in 2014/15, appr ...

* Chairman's Sprint Prize *

Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup is a Hong Kong Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late May or early June at Sha Tin Racecourse. A Group One race that offers a purse of HK$12,000,000, it is run on turf over a distance of 2400 meters (prior ...

On 9 September 2007, the Sha Tin track opened for the 2007 season with an opening day record of about 60,000. Chief Secretary

Henry Tang Henry Tang Ying-yen (; born 6 September 1952) is a Hong Kong politician who served as the Chief Secretary of Hong Kong between 2007 and 2011. He held the position of Financial Secretary from 2003 to 2007. In 2012, he lost the Hong Kong Chief ...

struck the ceremonial

gong A gongFrom Indonesian and ms, gong; jv, ꦒꦺꦴꦁ ; zh, c=鑼, p=luó; ja, , dora; km, គង ; th, ฆ้อง ; vi, cồng chiêng; as, কাঁহ is a percussion instrument originating in East Asia and Southeast Asia. Gongs ...

. The

collected US$106 million in bets (the highest since 2001). Children of horse owners were admitted amid protest of local anti-gambling groups. ''Sunny Power'', booted by Howard Cheng won in the 1,200 metre dash.ChannelNewsAsia.com, HK's Sha Tin race course opens to huge crowds
/ref>

Features

Originally built with a 35,000-capacity grandstand, it now has two grandstands with a total capacity of 85,000. It also has 20 stables for a capacity of 1,260 horses. Other features include: *Equine Hospital *Racing Laboratory *Equine Swimming Pool *Riverside Gallop Track Specifications: * Turf ** Straight: ** Circumference: * All-Weather Track (Dirt) ** Straight: ** Circumference:

Major races

;

Group One Group One, Group 1, Grade I or G1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. In Europe, the level of races for Thoroughbred racing is determined using the Pattern race system introduce ...

* Hong Kong International Races (December) **

- 2000m ** Hong Kong Mile - 1600m ** Hong Kong Sprint - 1200m **

- 2400m * Hong Kong Triple Crown **

- 1600m (January) ** Hong Kong Gold Cup - 2000m (February) **

- 2400m (May) * Centenary Sprint Cup - 1200m (January) *

- 1400m (February) *

- 2000m (April) *

- 1600m (April) * Chairman's Sprint Prize - 1200m (April) ;

Group Two A group is a number of persons or things that are located, gathered, or classed together. Groups of people * Cultural group, a group whose members share the same cultural identity * Ethnic group, a group whose members share the same ethnic ide ...

Premier Bowl The Premier Bowl is a Group 2 Thoroughbred handicap horse race in Hong Kong, run at Sha Tin over 1200 metres in October. Horses rated 90 and above are qualified to enter this race. Winners See also * List of Hong Kong horse races References ...

- 1200m (October) *

Sha Tin Trophy The Sha Tin Trophy is a horse race for horses aged four and over, run at a distance of 1,600 metres (one mile) on turf in October at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong. The Sha Tin Trophy was first contested in 1997. It was upgraded to International ...

- 1600m (October) * Jockey Club Day (November) **

Jockey Club Cup A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individua ...

- 2000m **

Jockey Club Mile The Jockey Club Mile is a Group 2 set weights Thoroughbred horse race in Hong Kong, run at Sha Tin over 1600 metres in November. In the 2003/2004 racing season, this race was upgraded to a domestic Group 2 event. The race was promoted to Internatio ...

- 1600m **

Jockey Club Sprint The Jockey Club Sprint is a Group 2 set weights Thoroughbred horse race in Hong Kong, run over 1200 metres. In the 2003/2004 racing season, this race was upgraded to a domestic Group 2 event. The race was promoted to International Group 2 status in ...

- 1200m *

Chairman's Trophy The Chairman's Trophy is a Group 2 set weights Thoroughbred horse race in Hong Kong, run at Sha Tin over a distance of 1600 metres, and takes place in early April. Horses three years old and older are qualified to enter this race. Winners ...

- 1600m (April) * Sprint Cup - 1200m (April) ; Group Three * Celebration Cup - 1400m (October) * National Day Cup - 1000m (October) *

Ladies' Purse The Ladies' Purse is a Group 3 Thoroughbred handicap horse race in Hong Kong, run at Sha Tin over 1800 metres in October. It is one of the oldest-established races in Hong Kong, after which a gold coin in a wallet will be presented to the winning ...

- 1800m (November) *

Chinese Club Challenge Cup The Chinese Club Challenge Cup is a Thoroughbred handicap horse race in Hong Kong, run at Sha Tin over a distance of 1400 metres. It takes place each year on New Year's Day. Horses rated 95 and above are qualified to enter this race. Winners See ...

- 1400m (January) *

Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Bauhinia Sprint Trophy is a Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race in Hong Kong, run at Sha Tin over 1000 metres in December/January. Horses rated 90 and above are qualified to enter the race. The race held Group One status until 2004 and was won twice, 20 ...

- 1000m (January) *

Centenary Vase The Centenary Vase is a Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race in Hong Kong, run at Sha Tin over a distance of 1800 metres in February. Horses rated 90 and above are qualified to enter this race. Winners ...

- 1600m (February) * Queen Mother Memorial Cup - 2400m (May) * Sha Tin Vase - 1200m (May) *

Lion Rock Trophy The Lion Rock Trophy, is a horse race for horses aged three and over, run at a distance of 1,600 metres (one mile) on turf in late May or early June at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong. The Lion Rock Trophy was first contested in 2016 and was upg ...

- 1600m (May) * Premier Cup - 1400m (June) *

Premier Plate The Premier Plate is a Group 3 Thoroughbred handicap horse race in Hong Kong, run at Sha Tin over 1800 metres in June. Horses rated 90 and above are qualified to enter the race. Records Leading jockey (4 wins): * Zac Purton – ''Military Att ...

- 1800m (June) ; Listed Race * Four-year-old Series (4YO Classic Series) **

Hong Kong Classic Mile The Hong Kong Classic Mile is a domestic Group 1 four year old set weights Thoroughbred horse race in Hong Kong, run over a distance of 1600 metres. It was originally a Group 3 race and was the traditional lead-up race for the Hong Kong Derby. In t ...

- 1600m (January) **

Hong Kong Classic Cup The Hong Kong Classic Cup is a Thoroughbred set weights horse race in Hong Kong for four year olds, run over a distance of 1800 metres. The first three finishers in this race have priority to run in the Hong Kong Derby, which is the most prestigious ...

- 1800m (February) **

- 2000m (March; since 1979)

Transport

The racecourse is served by Racecourse station of the

Mass Transit Railway The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) is a major public transport network serving :Hong Kong. Operated by the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), it consists of heavy rail, light rail, and feeder bus service centred on a 10-line rapid transit networ ...

(MTR). The station is only used on racing days. There are also several bus routes. One of the racecourse bus routes, KMB 872, had a deadly bus crash.

References

External links

Hong Kong Jockey Club official websiteShatin Racecourse
* {{Coord, 22, 23, 58, N, 114, 12, 24, E, type:landmark, display=title 1978 establishments in Hong Kong Event venues established in 1978 Extra areas operated by NT taxis Horse racing venues in Hong Kong Landmarks in Hong Kong Sha Tin District Tourist attractions in Hong Kong