The Hong Kong International Races draws top horses and jockeys from around the world and is one of the richest races anywhere

Some of the world's best horses are destined to race in Hong Kong at the prestigious Hong Kong International Races, later this year, an event with prize money of more than US$7 million.

The races are the highlight of an action-packed Hong Kong racing calendar, where even an ordinary midweek meeting can draw up to 20,000 people. For the International Races, at the showcase Sha Tin racecourse, just outside the city itself, up to 80,000 punters watch races in a venue that is generally agreed to be one of the best in the world.

Entries for the international races have come from all corners of the globe, and have to be whittled down, so only the very best horses make the final starting line up. This year, a total of 276 horses from 16 different jurisdictions have had their names put forward by owners.

The pay cheque for the first past the post is handsome by any standards, making it one of the richest races anywhere - comparable to the prize money at world renowned meetings at Ascot in England or Kentucky in the United States.

Drawing in an international crowd

The richest race on the day - December 14 - is the Hong Kong Cup, worth HK$18 (US$2.3 million), run over 2,000 metres followed by the Hong Kong Vase, worth HK$14 million (US$1.8 million) run over 2,400 metres, the Hong Kong Mile, worth HK$14 million (US$1.8 million) run over 1,600 metres and the Hong Kong Sprint, worth HK$10 million (US$1.28 million) run over 1,000 metres.

It is a day's racing that is bound to bring in a huge crowd of Hong Kong punters and visitors from around the world. The annual turnover for Hong Kong racing for the September to June season can be as high as US $78 billion (US$8 billion), with all profits going to charity.

A squad of overseas jockeys are on the books of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, which organises the racing - and no jockey needs asking twice to visit the city to race. As a prelude to the International Races, there will be the International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley Racecourse on December 10, a prelude to the main event.

Among those attending will be past winners Frankie Dettori, Andrasch Starke and Douglas Whyte, who will join a champion cast of jockeys from the four corners of the globe.

Related link:
Hong Kong Jockey Club   www.hongkongjockeyclub.com