Horse racing in
In Hong Kong, horse racing is centered around the ever popular Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club which was established in 1884, as a not for profit organization it has been behind the organizing of many of the races. Today the club organizers over 600 races per season at their tracks at Sha Tin and Happy Valley. Each year the sport of horse racing draws in millions of tax revenue for the country, if that is any indication of how serious a sport it has become.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club is considered as one of Hong Kong’s oldest institutions and in 1959 it was granted a Royal Charter and renamed as the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club but in 1997 when the country was granted back its sovereignty it was reverted back to its original name.
This institution, while it is the largest donor of funds for charities it is also the largest payer of taxes in the country. It is said that on average every year it pays about a billion Hong Kong dollars in taxes.
Aside from organising thrilling horse racing events the club also proves to be a place where members can get together over a meal and to socialise with families. The membership for the club goes well over 10,000 members.
The club has transformed from its early beginnings. When horse racing was established in Hong Kong it began as a past time for the upper class elitis colonial rulers, although there were a few Chinese members who were part of the club during the 20th and 19th centuries.
It was in 1971 that the club came to be regarded as a professional institution, and since then organised the annual racers in Hong Kong which took place in conjunction with the Chinese New Year.
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