As the 2024 horse racing season is about to begin in Hong Kong, the spotlight turns to Happy Valley and Sha Tin racecourses that will reopen on September 8th (Sha Tin) and September 11th (Happy Valley) to welcome again racing enthusiasts. Let’s take a look, through tracking data, at the unique features of these two temples of speed, last year’s jockey performances, and the prestigious Hong Kong Cup.
Happy Valley and Sha Tin: Two Prestigious Venues
Happy Valley and Sha Tin are iconic venues in the international horse racing scene. Located in the heart of Hong Kong, Happy Valley is an urban racetrack surrounded by skyscrapers. With its tight track, it offers a unique experience for spectators, blending the city’s vibrancy with the excitement of racing.
Sha Tin stands out for its size and modernity. Located in the New Territories, this racecourse is larger and more technical than Happy Valley, hosting the most prestigious races of the season, including the Hong Kong Cup, arguably the most anticipated Group 1 event of the year. This racecourse features two tracks: one turf track and one dirt track, with circumferences of 1 mile and 2 furlongs (1899 meters) and 7 furlongs and 110 yards (1560 meters), respectively, where some of the best riders in the world compete each winter.
2023 Jockey Rankings from a Tracking Perspective
With 130 races won out of 680 rides in 2023, Australian rider Zac Purton dominated the leaderboard, boasting a win rate of 19%. His 102 second-place finishes and 98 third-place finishes last season further underscore his remarkable consistency.
Following him, Karis Teetan solidified his rise with 86 wins, achieving a 12% win rate. His ability to get the best out of each horse, combined with his strategic reading of the races, makes him a professional to watch closely for the upcoming season.
Also noteworthy in the rankings is French jockey Alexis Badel, who finished sixth last year. The son of trainer Myriam Bolak-Badel, he enjoyed a strong 2023/2024 season, finishing in the top 10 of Hong Kong jockeys with 43 wins. His solid season could have ended in glory with a win in the 2023 Hong Kong Cup. However, the 34-year-old Frenchman finished last in this race while riding Champion Dragon, covering the course in 2:04.86. In the 2024 edition, Badel will once again be one of the riders to watch, aiming to improve on last year’s 7.36% win rate.
Tracking Retrospective of the 2023 Hong Kong Cup
The Hong Kong Cup, the flagship race of the season, is a must-see event in the horse racing world. In 2023, Romantic Warrior, a 6-year-old horse, claimed victory, completing the 1 mile and 2 furlongs (2000 meters) in 2:02.00. Starting from fourth position, he maintained his pace and surged forward in the final stretch to secure the win. He edged out Luxembourg, who clocked in at 2:02.03, by a narrow margin. It was a tight finish in this high-level race, where the only French horse, Horizon Doré, finished second to last. In the jockey showdown, it was James McDonald who emerged victorious, ahead of world number one Ryan Lee Moore.
As the new season approaches, expectations are high for the races at Happy Valley and Sha Tin. Jockeys and horses have begun their preparations under the watchful eyes of fans and analysts, all with one goal in mind: the Hong Kong Cup, set for December 8th.