The Hong Kong Jockey Club will stage the Hong Kong Elite Athletes Raceday at Sha Tin Racecourse on 27 December (Monday) in recognition of the outstanding performance of local athletes. It will also recognise the invaluable work of the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) on the eve of its 30th anniversary as well as its contributions to the sports sector.

The raceday will have two feature races, The HKSI 30th Anniversary Cup (Race 3) and The Hong Kong Elite Athletes Cup (Race 7). Other remaining handicap races on the day will be named for the seven sports that produced medals in the Olympics and Paralympics this year, namely fencing, swimming, cycling, table tennis, karate, badminton and boccia, and additionally equestrian sport.

Hong Kong’s elite athletes achieved historic results in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics this summer, bringing home a record six medals, while the city’s Paralympics squad collected five medals.

The HKSI played a significant role in their success. As a training and development centre for the city’s elite athletes, it has nurtured many outstanding local athletes. The Club has enjoyed a close relationship with the HKSI since it was founded as the Jubilee Sports Centre in 1982 with partial funding from the Club. Ongoing support from the Club includes donations amounting to over HK$730 million to date. That includes HK$103 million in 2013 to redevelop the old athletes’ hostel into the Jockey Club Sports Building, a multi-purpose elite training and coaching centre which supports the development of Paralympic sports, junior athletes and coach education.

The Club continues to be a staunch supporter of sports promotion in Hong Kong, both at the elite and community levels. This year it committed to providing HK$150 million in funding to match the Government’s grant to boost research and development in elite sports in the coming three years. The HK$300 million Sports Science and Research Funding Scheme will support areas including the upgrade of sports-tech equipment and installations, and advancements in sports medicine. It will also help prepare Hong Kong’s athletes for the 2022 Asian and Asian Para Games, the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games and other sporting events during the period.

All entrants must abide by public health measures, including temperature screening and wearing of face masks. To comply with Government requirements, all persons entering the racecourses and the catering facilities are required to scan the LeaveHomeSafe QR code. Entrants aged 65 and over may alternatively provide their names, telephone numbers and the date and time of the visit on a specified form. For enquiries, please call the Club’s Customer Hotline 1817 or visit www.hkjc.com.

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 charities 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 2020/21, the Club returned a total of HK$29.4 billion to the community. This included HK$24.9 billion to the Government in duty, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions and HK$4.5 billion in approved charity donations.  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.