To usher in the new season at the opening raceday at Sha Tin Racecourse this Sunday (11 September), customers* will have the chance to win an estimated total dividends of $88 million, while also benefiting from a lower Tierce takeout rate. In addition, the Trainer Challenge will be launched to offer another new fixed-odds bet type for customers.

$88 million season opening jackpot contributed by rollover
For the season’s opening day at Sha Tin this Sunday, the jackpot rollover with total estimated dividends of $45 million will be on offer.  Since a Triple Trio jackpot of over $24 million and a Six Win Bonus jackpot of over $3.3 million generated on last season’s Sha Tin finale fixture will be carried forward to Sunday, the Triple Trio and Six Win Bonus dividends could reach $38 million and $7 million respectively for a single $10 winning unit.

For the season’s first night meeting at Happy Valley Racecourse next Wednesday (14 September), up to $43 million in total dividends could be won. With the Triple Trio and Six Win Bonus carrying jackpots of over $23 million and $2.7 million respectively brought forward from last season’s Happy Valley finale fixture, the dividends for a single $10 winning unit could reach an estimated $36 million for the Triple Trio and $7 million for the Six Win Bonus.

Takeout reduction for Tierce
In the new season, mass customers will benefit from a cut in the Tierce takeout rate, which will be reduced by 3%, down to 22 % from 25%.

Trainer Challenge on offer
Another fixed-odds bet type – the Trainer Challenge (Photo 1) – will be available from this Sunday. Customers who correctly pick the trainer with the highest accumulated Trainer Challenge Points will be eligible for a dividend.  The dividend is calculated based on the fixed odds at the time the bet is accepted.

1.   Game format and rules
The game format and rules for the Trainer Challenge are largely the same as those for the Jockey Challenge.  Trainers listed in a Trainer Challenge will be numbered as 1 to 21.  No.1 to 20 will each be assigned to one named trainer each (up to 20 named trainers), while No. 21 will comprise the remaining trainers.

Trainers will earn 12, 6 and 4 points when horses from their stables finish in first, second and third place respectively in the nominated races. In the event of a dead-heat, the arrangements will be similar to those amended rules as applied in the Jockey Challenge (Photo 2 and Photo 3).  If a winner still cannot be determined after comparing the value of fourth place, the dividend payout will be divided by the number of winning trainers and paid according to the proportions of the unit bet and odds of each winning bet.

2.   Horse withdrawal
If a horse is scratched from a race, the bets on the Trainer Challenge will be handled accordingly with reference to the various scenarios listed below:

· Withdrawal after at least one starter has run
If a starter has run in a nominated race (which has not become a Void Race or Non-Runner), all bets on that trainer in the relevant  Trainer Challenge will remain valid, even if all the chosen trainer’s other starters are subsequently withdrawn.

· Withdrawal of all starters from the same stable
If all starters of a trainer numbered from No.1 to 20 are scratched, refunds will be made subject to the odds of that trainer at the time the withdrawals are announced.  If the odds are 5.0 or below when the withdrawal is announced, all relevant Trainer Challenge bets will be refunded.  If the odds are higher than 5.0 when the withdrawal is announced, all bets on the relevant trainer will be refunded.

If all horses of any trainer grouped under No. 21 are withdrawn, all Trainer Challenge bets on No. 21 in that Trainer Challenge will still stand.

3.   Void race or void item number
When a nominated race is declared void, all Trainer Challenge bets placed on that Trainer Challenge will remain valid and the void race will not be counted.

In a situation whereby “Trainer Challenge 1” is declared void, “Trainer Challenge 2” might be offered and so on through the numbering order during a race meeting.  However, only one Trainer Challenge will be offered at the same time.

4.   Selection numbers, odds and selling hours
Selection numbers and odds for the Trainer Challenge will be available at the time the pool goes on sale on pre-selling day. The Trainer Challenge will not offer in-play betting for the time being and the selling arrangement is as follows:

Selling hours of Trainer Challenge

5.   New ticket
Designated ticket (Photo 4) for the Trainer Challenge will be available at the Off-Course Betting Branches (OCBBs) and racecourses.  Customers betting with cash need to mark ‘TNC’, item number, trainer number and investment amount on the tickets. Those who place their bets through Telebet and Interactive Services can simply indicate or click on their selections and investment amount.

For more details on the Trainer Challenge^, please visit the Club’s OCBBs or racecourses for a leaflet or browse the Club’s website at www.hkjcracing.com.

* Customers must be aged 18 or above

^ In the event of any inconsistency between this document and the Horse Race Betting Rules, the Horse Race Betting Rules shall prevail.