Hong Kong Jockey Club
Encyclopedia
The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) is one of the oldest institutions in Hong Kong
, founded in 1884 to promote horse racing
. It was granted Royal Charter
and renamed to "The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club" (英皇御准香港賽馬會) in 1959. The name of the institution was reverted to its original name in 1996 due to the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong in 1997.
It is a non-profit organisation providing horse racing
, sporting and betting entertainment in Hong Kong. It holds a government-granted monopoly
in providing pari-mutuel betting on horse racing, the Mark Six
lottery
, and fixed odds betting
on overseas football events. The organization is the largest taxpayer in Hong Kong, as well as the largest private donor of charity funds, contributing an average of over HK$1 billion (approximately US$130 million) annually over the past ten years. The HKJC also provides dining, social and recreation facilities to its approximately 23,000 members.
, it was an exclusive club whose membership was drawn from the upper class. During the 19th and early 20th century, there were few Chinese members . Three of the top colonial clubs at the time, namely the Jockey Club, Victoria Recreation Club (1872) and the Amateur Dramatic Corps (1844) "had not a single Chinese member between them".
The Club evolved into a professional institution from 1971. The Club organised the annual races which took place around Chinese New Year
, and was initially financed by commissions on bets which were placed through private clubs.
HM Queen Elizabeth II
accorded it with Royal Charter
in 1959, and became "The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club" (英皇御准香港賽馬會) until 1996.
In July 2005, the decision to stage equestrian competitions in Hong Kong
was made. The Club's world-class international racing centre at Sha Tin
was used as the foundation for the Olympic and Paralympic venues, with additional competition and training venues being incorporated into existing sports facilities at the Hong Kong Sports Institute
, the Jockey Club Beas River Country Club and the adjacent golf course
.
and Happy Valley
. During the 2001/02 racing season, the HKJC licensed 1,144 horse owners, 24 trainer
s and 35 jockey
s and had 1,435 horses in training.
In 2002–2003, the betting turnover was HK$71 billion. After paying dividends of 58 billion and betting duty of 9.5 billion, its betting commission revenue was HK$3.9 billion. It contributes 11.7% of Hong Kong's tax revenue. Surpluses from its operation are allocated to the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.
Since the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong, the popularity of horse racing has declined possibly due to economic conditions in the region; the HKJC's revenue has substantially declined in recent years.
On 16 March 2007, the HKJC appointed William (Bill) Nader, formerly with the New York Racing Association
, as its executive director of racing from April 2007.
On 9 September 2007, Sha Tin Racecourse
opened after its summer break with record 1-day crowd of about 60,000. Chief Secretary Henry Tang
stroke the ceremonial gong
. The Hong Kong Jockey Club collected US$106 million in bets (highest since 2001). Children of horse owners were admitted amid protest of local anti-gambling groups. Sunny Power, booted by Howard Cheng got the trophy
in the 1,200 metre dash.
In January 2008, Eclipse
and Sovereign Award
winning jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson
became the first North American
female rider to be granted a license to compete in Hong Kong. http://www.racingnewswire.net/2008/01/27/emma-jayne-wilson-granted-hk-licence/
over betting on horse racing
and football. In 1974, it opened 6 off-course branches where the members of the public could wager on horse race meets at the club's Happy Valley racecourse. There are now in excess of 100 betting branches throughout the territory which accepts bets on racing and on soccer and buy Mark Six
lottery
tickets.
The HKJC was instrumental in persuading the Hong Kong government to pass the Gambling (Amendment) Bill 2002 to combat unauthorized cross-border gambling and the related promotional activities in Hong Kong, making it a criminal offence for any person in Hong Kong to bet with an unauthorized bookmaker, even when the bets are received outside Hong Kong. The offence applies to all visitors as well as to residents of Hong Kong.
It was also instrumental in persuading other members of the Asian Racing Federation
to sign the Good Neighbour Policy
on 1 September 2003.
As of September 2006, all Win, Place, Quinella, and Quinella Place bets (including All Up bets) of a value of at least 10,000 Hong Kong Dollars are eligible for a 10% rebate if the bet or betline loses.
, as Hong Kong struggled with post-war reconstruction and a massive immigration, there was a need for more charitable structures. HKJC enhanced its charitable role in 1955 by formally devoting its annual surplus to charity and community projects. In 1959, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (Charities) Ltd, was formed to administer donations. This company became the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust in 1993.
The trust serves four principal areas of civic and social need: sports, recreation
and culture, education and training, community services and medical and health.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club supports various social and education institutions. The Jockey Club Government Secondary School
in Kowloon Tong
and the Jockey Club Ti-I College
in Shatin was funded by the then Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club. Many swimming pool
s or public sport facilities in Hong Kong are supported or founded by the funding of The Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, founded in 1884 to promote horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. It was granted Royal Charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
and renamed to "The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club" (英皇御准香港賽馬會) in 1959. The name of the institution was reverted to its original name in 1996 due to the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong in 1997.
It is a non-profit organisation providing horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
, sporting and betting entertainment in Hong Kong. It holds a government-granted monopoly
Government-granted monopoly
In economics, a government-granted monopoly is a form of coercive monopoly by which a government grants exclusive privilege to a private individual or firm to be the sole provider of a good or service; potential competitors are excluded from the market by law, regulation, or other mechanisms of...
in providing pari-mutuel betting on horse racing, the Mark Six
Mark Six
Mark Six is a lottery betting organized by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.-The game:Mark Six is a lottery style game where players guess what numbers will be drawn out of a lottery machine. The lottery machine is a transparent plastic cylinder which contains colored balls numbered 1 to 49. The cylinder...
lottery
Lottery
A lottery is a form of gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize.Lottery is outlawed by some governments, while others endorse it to the extent of organizing a national or state lottery. It is common to find some degree of regulation of lottery by governments...
, and fixed odds betting
Fixed-odds gambling
Fixed-odds betting is a form of wagering against odds offered by a bookmaker, an individual, or on a bet exchange.-Calculating fixed odds:It is customary with fixed-odds gambling to know the odds at the time of the placement of the wager , although this category also includes wagers whose price is...
on overseas football events. The organization is the largest taxpayer in Hong Kong, as well as the largest private donor of charity funds, contributing an average of over HK$1 billion (approximately US$130 million) annually over the past ten years. The HKJC also provides dining, social and recreation facilities to its approximately 23,000 members.
History
Founded in 1884 as an amateur body to promote horse racingHorse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
, it was an exclusive club whose membership was drawn from the upper class. During the 19th and early 20th century, there were few Chinese members . Three of the top colonial clubs at the time, namely the Jockey Club, Victoria Recreation Club (1872) and the Amateur Dramatic Corps (1844) "had not a single Chinese member between them".
The Club evolved into a professional institution from 1971. The Club organised the annual races which took place around Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year – often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar – is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is an all East and South-East-Asia celebration...
, and was initially financed by commissions on bets which were placed through private clubs.
HM Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
accorded it with Royal Charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
in 1959, and became "The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club" (英皇御准香港賽馬會) until 1996.
2008 Beijing Olympic Games
Equestrian at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Equestrian competitions at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics were held from August 9 to August 21 at the Hong Kong Sports Institute and Sheung Yue River in Hong Kong. It was the second time the equestrian events were hosted by a member of the IOC other than the member hosting the main games...
was made. The Club's world-class international racing centre at Sha Tin
Sha Tin
Sha Tin, also spelled Shatin, is an area around the Shing Mun River in the New Territories of Hong Kong. Administratively, it is part of the Sha Tin District.-Geography:...
was used as the foundation for the Olympic and Paralympic venues, with additional competition and training venues being incorporated into existing sports facilities at the Hong Kong Sports Institute
Hong Kong Sports Institute
The Hong Kong Sports Institute is a sports institute in the Fo Tan, Sha Tin district of Hong Kong. It was the site of equestrian events of the 2008 Summer Olympics.-References:**...
, the Jockey Club Beas River Country Club and the adjacent golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
.
Racing activities
The HKJC conducts nearly 700 horse races per year at its two race tracks at Sha TinSha Tin Racecourse
Sha Tin Racecourse is one of the two racecourses for horse racing in Hong Kong. It is located in Sha Tin in the New Territories. It is managed by Hong Kong Jockey Club.Penfold Park is encircled by the track.-History:...
and Happy Valley
Happy Valley Racecourse
Happy Valley Racecourse is one of the two racecourses for horse racing in Hong Kong. It is located in Happy Valley on Hong Kong Island, surrounded by Wong Nai Chung Road and Morrison Hill Road.-History:...
. During the 2001/02 racing season, the HKJC licensed 1,144 horse owners, 24 trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
s and 35 jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
s and had 1,435 horses in training.
In 2002–2003, the betting turnover was HK$71 billion. After paying dividends of 58 billion and betting duty of 9.5 billion, its betting commission revenue was HK$3.9 billion. It contributes 11.7% of Hong Kong's tax revenue. Surpluses from its operation are allocated to the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.
Since the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong, the popularity of horse racing has declined possibly due to economic conditions in the region; the HKJC's revenue has substantially declined in recent years.
On 16 March 2007, the HKJC appointed William (Bill) Nader, formerly with the New York Racing Association
New York Racing Association
The New York Racing Association, Inc. is the not-for-profit corporation that operates the three largest thoroughbred horse-racing tracks in the state of New York. It runs Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, Queens, Belmont Park in Elmont, Long Island , and Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga...
, as its executive director of racing from April 2007.
On 9 September 2007, Sha Tin Racecourse
Sha Tin Racecourse
Sha Tin Racecourse is one of the two racecourses for horse racing in Hong Kong. It is located in Sha Tin in the New Territories. It is managed by Hong Kong Jockey Club.Penfold Park is encircled by the track.-History:...
opened after its summer break with record 1-day crowd of about 60,000. Chief Secretary Henry Tang
Henry Tang
Henry Tang Ying-yen, GBM, GBS, JP was the Chief Secretary for Administration of Hong Kong until his resignation in September 2011. He is a candidate in the Hong Kong Chief Executive election of 2012, and believed to be preferred by Beijing....
stroke the ceremonial gong
Gong
A gong is an East and South East Asian musical percussion instrument that takes the form of a flat metal disc which is hit with a mallet....
. The Hong Kong Jockey Club collected US$106 million in bets (highest since 2001). Children of horse owners were admitted amid protest of local anti-gambling groups. Sunny Power, booted by Howard Cheng got the trophy
Trophy
A trophy is a reward for a specific achievement, and serves as recognition or evidence of merit. Trophies are most often awarded for sporting events, from youth sports to professional level athletics...
in the 1,200 metre dash.
In January 2008, Eclipse
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
and Sovereign Award
Sovereign Award
The Sovereign Award is given annually since 1975 by the Jockey Club of Canada to the outstanding horses and people in Canadian Thoroughbred racing.The most prestigious award for horses is Sovereign Horse of the Year....
winning jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson
Emma-Jayne Wilson
Emma-Jayne Wilson is a Sovereign and Eclipse Award-winning jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. The daughter of a computer programmer and a corporate marketing executive, she began taking riding lessons as a girl of nine...
became the first North American
North American
North American generally refers to an entity, people, group, or attribute of North America, especially of the United States and Canada together.-Culture:*North American English, a collective term used to describe American English and Canadian English...
female rider to be granted a license to compete in Hong Kong. http://www.racingnewswire.net/2008/01/27/emma-jayne-wilson-granted-hk-licence/
Betting and the law
The HKJC has a legal monopolyLegal monopoly
A legal monopoly, statutory monopoly, or de jure monopoly is a monopoly that is protected by law from competition. A statutory monopoly may take the form of a government monopoly where the state owns the particular means of production or government-granted monopoly where a private interest is...
over betting on horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
and football. In 1974, it opened 6 off-course branches where the members of the public could wager on horse race meets at the club's Happy Valley racecourse. There are now in excess of 100 betting branches throughout the territory which accepts bets on racing and on soccer and buy Mark Six
Mark Six
Mark Six is a lottery betting organized by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.-The game:Mark Six is a lottery style game where players guess what numbers will be drawn out of a lottery machine. The lottery machine is a transparent plastic cylinder which contains colored balls numbered 1 to 49. The cylinder...
lottery
Lottery
A lottery is a form of gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize.Lottery is outlawed by some governments, while others endorse it to the extent of organizing a national or state lottery. It is common to find some degree of regulation of lottery by governments...
tickets.
The HKJC was instrumental in persuading the Hong Kong government to pass the Gambling (Amendment) Bill 2002 to combat unauthorized cross-border gambling and the related promotional activities in Hong Kong, making it a criminal offence for any person in Hong Kong to bet with an unauthorized bookmaker, even when the bets are received outside Hong Kong. The offence applies to all visitors as well as to residents of Hong Kong.
It was also instrumental in persuading other members of the Asian Racing Federation
Asian Racing Federation
The Asian Racing Federation is an international federation of horse racing governing bodies in Asia, most of which are government granted monopolies.Established in 1960 as the Asian Racing Conference, it changed its name to Asian Racing Federation in 2001....
to sign the Good Neighbour Policy
Good Neighbour Policy
The Good Neighbour Policy is an agreement amongst horse racing jurisdictions that they shall not provide betting on horse racing to residents of other signatory jurisdictions without the permission of that signatory jurisdiction, nor solicit, market nor advertise betting without prior authorisation...
on 1 September 2003.
2006 Horse Racing Reforms
In 2006, after years of declining turnover, the Hong Kong Legislative Council passed the Betting Ordinance (Amendment) 2006. This amendment granted the Hong Kong Jockey Club more autonomy in how it ran its own operations.Single-Race Bets
Pool Name – Dividend Qualification- Win (獨贏) – 1st in a race.
- Place (位置) – 1st, 2nd or 3rd in a raceRacingA sport race is a competition of speed, against an objective criterion, usually a clock or to a specific point. The competitors in a race try to complete a given task in the shortest amount of time...
with 7 or more declared starters or 1st, 2nd in a race with 4, 5, 6 declared starters. - Quinella (連贏) – 1st and 2nd in either order in the race.
- Quinella Place (位置Q) – Any two of the first three placed horses in any finishing order in the race.
- Trio (單T) – 1st, 2nd and 3rd in any order in the race.
- Tierce (三重彩) – 1st, 2nd and 3rd in correct order in the race.
- First Four (四連環) – 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in any order in the race.
As of September 2006, all Win, Place, Quinella, and Quinella Place bets (including All Up bets) of a value of at least 10,000 Hong Kong Dollars are eligible for a 10% rebate if the bet or betline loses.
Multiple-Race Bets
Pool Name – Dividend Qualification – Consolation [if any]- Double (孖寶) – 1st in two nominated races – 1st in 1st leg and 2nd in 2nd leg.
- Treble (三寶) – 1st in three nominated races – 1st in first two legs and 2nd in third leg.
- Double Trio (孖T) – 1st, 2nd and 3rd in any order in both legs.
- Triple Trio (三T) – 1st, 2nd and 3rd in any order in three legs – 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the first two Triple Trio legs.
- Six Up (六環彩) – 1st or 2nd in each of the legs nominated to comprise the Six Up – 1st or 2nd in each of the legs nominated to comprise the Six Up.
Charities
In the 1950s1950s in Hong Kong
1950s in Hong Kong began after the Japanese rule ended in 1945 with sovereignty returning to the British. However, the Nationalist-Communist Civil War was renewed in mainland China. It prompted a large influx of refugees from the mainland, causing a huge population surge. The government struggled...
, as Hong Kong struggled with post-war reconstruction and a massive immigration, there was a need for more charitable structures. HKJC enhanced its charitable role in 1955 by formally devoting its annual surplus to charity and community projects. In 1959, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (Charities) Ltd, was formed to administer donations. This company became the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust in 1993.
The trust serves four principal areas of civic and social need: sports, recreation
Recreation
Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure and are considered to be "fun"...
and culture, education and training, community services and medical and health.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club supports various social and education institutions. The Jockey Club Government Secondary School
Jockey Club Government Secondary School
Jockey Club Government Secondary School or JCGSS , formed in 1960, is a government funded full time secondary school in Oxford Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong...
in Kowloon Tong
Kowloon Tong
Kowloon Tong , formerly Kau Lung Tong, is an area in Hong Kong. Within New Kowloon, it is administratively divided by Kowloon City District and Sham Shui Po District...
and the Jockey Club Ti-I College
Jockey Club Ti-I College
Jockey Club Ti-I College is a secondary school in Sha Tin, Hong KongJockey Club Ti-I College was established by a total funding of HK$ 84 million from Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club...
in Shatin was funded by the then Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club. Many swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
s or public sport facilities in Hong Kong are supported or founded by the funding of The Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Club chairmen
- Sir Catchick Paul ChaterCatchick Paul ChaterSir Catchick Paul Chater, CMG , was a prominent British businessman of Armenian descent in colonial Hong Kong.-Early life:...
(1892–1926) - Douglas ClagueDouglas ClagueColonel The Honorable Sir Douglas Clague CBE, MC, QPM, CPM, TD was a British soldier and entrepreneur who spent most of his life in Hong Kong.He was born in Rhodesia ....
- Sir Gordon MacWhinnieGordon MacWhinnieSir Gordon MacWhinnie, JP was a key figure in Hong Kong before its return to the PRC.MacWhinnie founded the Hong Kong Society of Accountants, serving as its President from 1973-74, which earned him the unofficial title “father of modern accountancy in Hong Kong”...
- Peter Gordon William
- Michael Graham Ruddock SandbergMichael SandbergMichael Graham Ruddock Sandberg, Baron Sandberg was Executive Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation 1977-1986.-History:Sandberg was born in Surrey and educated at St Edward's School, Oxford. In 1945 he joined the army and was commissioned 2nd lieutenant in the Royal Armoured...
- Sir Oswald Victor Cheung
- Sir John Joseph SwaineJohn Joseph SwaineSir John Joseph Swaine CBE, QC, JP was the President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong from 1993 to 1995. A barrister by training, Swaine was an appointed and unofficial member of the council...
- Sir William Purves
- Alan Li
- Ronald ArculliRonald ArculliRonald Joseph Arculli, GBM, GBS, CVO, OBE, JP is chairman of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing and Non-official Members Convenor of the Executive Council of Hong Kong . He is a Hong Kong solicitor and a founding partner of the law firm, Arculli, Fong, & Ng, which later merged with King &...
- John Chan (陳祖澤)
- Thomas Brian Stevenson