LONGINES and the Hong Kong Jockey Club are delighted to announce the extension of the partnership first established in 2012 and strengthened over the course of the decade since then. The hourglass brand will continue to be the Title Partner and Official Timekeeper of the LONGINES Cup, the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship and the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races.

The LONGINES Hong Kong International Races, also known as the “Turf World Championships”, is firmly established as the culminating event on the global calendar and one of the world’s most prestigious racing occasions. Industry leaders from around the world assemble in Hong Kong for a week-long celebration of racing at the elite level, beginning with the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship. The festivities also include a gala dinner which features the presentation of the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey award.

The renewal of this major partnership is for a period of five years, from 2022 to 2026. Initiated in 2012 and extended for the first time in 2016, the partnership reflects the shared values of both entities; passion for equestrian sports, performance, elegance and tradition.

"LONGINES is particularly proud to be associated with the Hong Kong Jockey Club and would like to thank all the members of this prestigious institution for their excellent collaboration. As Title Partner and Official Timekeeper, we are delighted to continue this long-standing relationship and to share our common passion for equestrian sports," said Matthias Breschan, CEO of LONGINES.

Founded in 1884, the Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world leader in horse racing and sporting entertainment, and one of the world’s top ten charity donors, generating substantial economic and social value. It is also one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions in Hong Kong.

Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges welcomed the extension of the Club’s partnership with LONGINES.

“We are delighted to extend our partnership with LONGINES, a brand which is synonymous with quality, both in terms of watch-making and equestrian sport. The LONGINES Hong Kong International (HKIR) week is an international showcase of the world’s best horses, trainers and jockeys and one of the biggest racing events worldwide. It demonstrates our commitment to excellence at the elite level and provides a year-end opportunity for the very best to perform on a global stage.

Hong Kong will continue to be the home of the world’s richest Group 1 turf races over 1200m, 1600m and 2000m when the collective prize money of the four G1 features at the LONGINES HKIR rises to a new high of HK$110 million (USD 14 million), an increase of HK$10 million (USD 1.27 million) on 2021. The distribution of prize money for the four Longines Group 1 races to be run at Sha Tin Racecourse is:

The partnership between LONGINES and the Hong Kong Jockey Club is a continuation of the Swiss watch brand’s commitment to the equestrian world. LONGINES’ passion for the equestrian world dates back to 1869, when the brand crafted its first equestrian pocket watch found to date. Not long after, in 1878, LONGINES developed a famous chronograph movement, fitted in a case engraved with a jockey and his mount. Seen on the American racetracks since the late nineteenth century, this type of timepieces proved extremely popular among jockeys and horse-lovers, as it enabled its user to time performances to the second. Designed in the workshops of the factory of Saint-Imier, these first creations mark LONGINES’ very first involvement in the equestrian world.