All three FWD Champions Day Group 1 races were last year rated in the World’s Top 100 G1 races. With quality fields assembled for this Sunday’s (30 April) FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin, Managing Director of Greater China and Hong Kong Chief Executive Officer, FWD Mr Ken Lau said: “FWD is proud to be the major sponsor of FWD Champions Day since 2019. As the key supporter of one of the world’s premier race meetings, we congratulate the Hong Kong Jockey Club for its on-going commitment.
“As a fast-growing pan-Asian life insurer rooted in Hong Kong with more than 10 million customers across 10 markets, FWD is honoured to partner with the Hong Kong Jockey Club to bring world-class excitement and entertainment to local and international audiences, which perfectly aligns with our promise to ‘Celebrate living’.”
The enhanced FWD Champions Day purse bolsters already significant prize money and incentive structure announcements made by the Club in recent days.
Hong Kong’s domestic racing prize money will rise by 8% for the 2023/24 season, featuring increases across every class of competition – from Griffins to Class 1 and the Four-Year-Old Classic Series – with an additional HK$94 million on offer.
|
Class
|
2021/22 value (HK$)
|
2022/23 value (HK$)
|
2023/24 value (HK$)
|
Increase (HK$)
|
% Increase
|
|
1
|
3,150,000
|
3,465,000
|
3,720,000
|
255,000
|
7.4%
|
|
1600+
|
3,150,000
|
3,800,000
|
4,075,000
|
275,000
|
7.2%
|
|
2
|
2,400,000
|
2,640,000
|
2,840,000
|
200,000
|
7.6%
|
|
1600+
|
2,400,000
|
2,900,000
|
3,120,000
|
220,000
|
7.6%
|
|
3
|
1,570,000
|
1,725,000
|
1,860,000
|
135,000
|
7.8%
|
|
1600+
|
1,570,000
|
1,900,000
|
2,050,000
|
150,000
|
7.9%
|
|
4
|
1,040,000
|
1,080,000
|
1,170,000
|
90,000
|
8.3%
|
|
5
|
780,000
|
810,000
|
875,000
|
65,000
|
8.0%
|
|
Griffins
|
850,000
|
880,000
|
950,000
|
70,000
|
8.0%
|
Including bonuses, Hong Kong’s total domestic prize money will swell to HK$1.38 billion, while every category of the jurisdiction’s racing surges to record prize money levels.
Adding to the Club’s decision to boost PP (Privately Purchased) Bonuses for both Class 2 and Class 3 horses from HK$1 million to HK$1.5 million for next season, prize money for Class 1 races at 1600m and further will be worth HK$4.075 million, a gain of 7.2%.
Class 2 races will be worth an extra HK$220,000 at 1600m and further with HK$3.12 million available per race, while Class 3 contests at 1600m and beyond rise by 7.9% to HK$2.05 million.
Class 4 races will be worth HK$1.17 million next season, an increase of 8.3%, while Class 5 races will carry an extra HK$65,000 in reaching HK$875,000 per race, an increase of 8.0%. Prize money for Griffins rises 8% to HK$950,000 a race.
The Four-Year-Old Classic Series will be worth HK$52 million with the BMW Hong Kong Derby offering HK$26million – up HK$2 million – while the Hong Kong Classic Mile and Hong Kong Classic Cup have both received HK$1 million upgrades to HK$13 million.
“Providing attractive incentives and increasing returns on investments for our Owners are central to the enhancements so far outlined for the 2023/24 season. Owners are the foundation of Hong Kong’s world-class racing and we believe that these increases will provide additional support commensurate with their investments,” Mr Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said.
Details of the final 2023/24 prize money structure, including the 2023 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races and other Group races, will be announced by the Club in coming days.
As a result of this substantial prize money boost for 2023/24, the Club has also approved an extension of the closing date for the 2023 Horse Ballot from 5pm Thursday, 27 April by two weeks to 5pm Thursday, 11 May.
