Today (17 November) saw the opening of the LONGINES China Tour The Hong Kong Jockey Club Guangzhou Final, one of the Chinese Mainland’s leading equestrian competitions. The Guangzhou Final is sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club and is being held at the Guangdong Huangcun Sports Training Centre. 

“The Hong Kong Jockey Club has been sponsoring the LONGINES China Tour The Hong Kong Jockey Club Guangzhou Final for four consecutive years. This exemplifies our continuous support for equestrian sports in the Chinese Mainland,” said Club Steward Michael T H Lee at the dinner reception. Lee also noted that two years ago, the Hong Kong Jockey Club had funded the construction of an international standard equestrian arena at the Guangdong Huangcun Sports Training Centre, which was used for the Guangzhou Final in 2015 and 2016. He was delighted that the venue was much praised by riders, and that it would once again be the venue for this year’s competition.

The Chinese Equestrian Association (CEA) thanked the Club and other sponsors for their support. Noting this was the fifth year the CEA had organised the LONGINES China Tour, the CEA expressed its sincere gratitude to The Hong Kong Jockey Club for funding the construction of the arena, which was much praised by riders. The Association also thanked the Club for its efforts in promoting equestrian sports and the LONGINES China Tour.

The LONGINES China Tour is organised by the Chinese Equestrian Association and this year consisted of four legs held in Dalian, Tianjin, Beijing and Guangzhou. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Cup Guangzhou Final, sponsored by the Club for the fourth consecutive year, is a 3-star jumping competition accredited by the Fédération Equestre Internationale, with competitions being held at different levels.

The Club is a long-standing supporter of sport in the Chinese Mainland. Since 1984, the Club has donated more than 1,000 retired racehorses to sports teams in different provinces and cities. The Club constructed the equestrian venues of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games, in addition to providing professional support services to these events. Because of these contributions, it was honoured as an “Outstanding Contributor” for both events. Eight riders from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Equestrian Team competed for Hong Kong in the equestrian events of the 13th National Games in September. This was the first time for a Hong Kong team to compete in all three equestrian disciplines of dressage, eventing and show jumping, where they won one silver medal and one bronze medal. Since 2014, the Club has been co-operating with the General Administration of Sport to support Community Fitness Programmes. The Club is also funding four sports parks in Guangdong Province..

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class racing club that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charities and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2016/17, the Club’s total direct return to the community was HK$30.5 billion. It is Hong Kong's largest single taxpayer, one of the city’s major employers and one of the world's top ten charity donors. The Club is always "riding high together for a better future" with the people of Hong Kong.