World Horse Racing, the digital media brand that has taken horse racing coverage to a new level since its launch in 2018, has announced a new partner – the world renowned Hong Kong Jockey Club.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club becomes the fifth partner in the global alliance of leading racing organisations behind the media brand – joining Ascot, Breeders’ Cup, Goodwood and the Victoria Racing Club.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s backing reflects the growth of what is now the sport’s largest organic social media community and distribution network, with monthly views in-excess of 12 million and over 1.85 million combined followers currently using the group’s channels to follow its year-round coverage of elite international horse racing.

The sustained audience growth has come from World Horse Racing’s unique approach to the sport, focusing on its human, cultural and sporting stories. The backing of the Hong Kong Jockey Club – with its 12 Group 1 races, two signature festivals and world renowned international profile – promises to accelerate the media operation’s growth considerably.

“The vision of HKJC is always on world class racing, something we advocated at the 2018 Asian Racing Conference and we feel is an important initiative to broaden the fan base regionally and globally. We join a strong group of partners which are aligned on positioning racing as a global brand to develop our future growth, health and success as a world-class sport,” Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said.

On behalf of the World Horse Racing partners – Guy Henderson CEO Ascot Racecourse, Drew Flemming CEO Breeders’ Cup, Adam Waterworth Managing Director Goodwood Racecourse , Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges CEO Hong Kong Jockey Club and Neil Wilson CEO The Victoria Racing Club – Tim Bulley, Chairman of World Horse Racing, said “By taking a new and innovative approach to racing story telling World Horse Racing is growing a new global audience at scale and energising those already in love with the sport. The welcome addition of the Hong Kong Jockey Club brings World Horse Racing incredible access and storytelling opportunities across the world’s most elite and extraordinary racing festivals and a huge, dynamic footprint in Asia.”

About:

Hong Kong Jockey Club:
The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) features 12 Group One races, including three of the World’s Top 25 Group 1 races during its Hong Kong International race meeting in December. It is home to the world’s richest Group 1 turf race at distances of 1200, 1600 and 2000 metres.

The HKJC is one of the largest employers in Hong Kong, makes an annual tax contribution of over HK$20 billion and provided HK$4.5 billion for charities and community projects in 2019-20. Nearly 74 percent of the Club’s betting revenue is returned to Hong Kong.

Founded in 1884 as a membership club to promote racing, the Club operates a unique integrated business model of world-class racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charities and community contribution. This enables the Club to generate economic and social value.

Ascot Racecourse:
Founded by Queen Anne in 1711, Ascot Racecourse remains a pillar of British sporting and social culture. Its stature, reputation and unique celebration of occasion is admired the world over. As one of the largest and most prestigious racecourses in the world, Ascot has been hosting some of the finest horse racing events, including Royal Ascot, for more than 300 years.

Royal Ascot, which features eight Group One races including three on its spectacular opening day, is the flat racing’s most prestigious meeting and Ascot’s fixture list represents the highest quality throughout the year.

Breeders’ Cup:
The 2020 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 races (13 Grade 1 events) with purses and awards totalling more than US$31 million, will be held November 6-7 at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky., and will be televised live by the NBC Sports Group. 

The Breeders’ Cup also administers the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The Challenge Series consist of 86 qualifying races, hosted at 28 racecourses in 12 countries. The Breeders’ Cup generates up to US$96 million annually in economic impact to its host cities.

Goodwood:
Goodwood is renowned for being one of the most beautiful racecourses in the world. Its flagship fixture, the Qatar Goodwood Festival, is affectionately known as ‘Glorious Goodwood’, and has been a highlight of the English summer season since the 19th century.  In addition to the racing, Goodwood has become synonymous with a unique sense of style. Known for its relaxed, yet chic look, Goodwood is a place where the Panama hat, linen suits and delicate summer dresses are de-rigueur. With its intoxicating mix of style, elegance and world-class horseracing, the Festival is a quintessentially English experience like no other.

Victoria Racing Club:
The VRC is home to one of the world’s most vibrant racing events, the Melbourne Cup Carnival – a uniquely Australian celebration of sport, fashion, food, wine and culture. The Melbourne Cup Carnival attracts more than 300,000 racegoers to Flemington Racecourse over four magical race days each year and injects more than A$444 million dollars into the Victorian economy. The jewel in the Melbourne Cup Carnival crown is the Lexus Melbourne Cup, a 3200m Group 1 staying race, one of the world’s richest, offering A$8 million in prize money. However, it is much more than just a horse race; it is a 160-year-old social and cultural tradition that literally brings Australia to a standstill.