Further details were announced today (22 Jan) of the new Asian competitions at the Longines Masters of Hong Kong 2019, which will take place from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 February at AsiaWorld-Expo.  The HKJC Asian Challenge, HKJC Asian Junior Challenge and HKJC Asian Junior Grand Prix are new milestones in promoting equestrian development in the region and will give some of Asia’s promising young riders the chance to experience top-level international competition. 

Two of the young local riders participating – Edgar Fung and Vincent Capol from the HKJC Junior Equestrian Training Squad (JETS) – joined today's press conference to talk about their preparations for the event, while also in attendance were jockeys Neil Callan, Vincent Ho, Chad Schofield and Keith Yeung who will contest this year's HKJC Race of the Riders, a unique event pairing horse racing jockeys with equestrian riders.  Fung represented Hong Kong in last year's Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires and Capol in the Asian Equestrian Federation Junior Championships in Taipei.

The HKJC's Executive Director, Corporate Planning, Branding & Membership, Scarlette Leung, said the Club as Founding Partner of the Masters and Asia Horse Week was helping to make Hong Kong a hub for equestrian sport in Asia. The establishment of the Asian challenges this year would further develop equestrian sport in Asia. “Through these competitions we want to provide more opportunities for Asia’s up-and-coming riders to showcase their talent in the international arena,” she said.

The Longines Masters of Hong Kong, the 7th edition since it was established in 2013, will bring many of the world's leading equestrian riders to Hong Kong, including Simon Delestre from France and Olivier Philippaerts from Belgium.  Serving as the middle leg of the 2018/19 Grand Slam Indoor of Show Jumping, it follows the first leg held in Paris two months ago, and precedes the final leg in New York in late April.  Major contests include the HKJC Trophy on Friday 15 February and the grand finale, the US$400,000 Longines Grand Prix, on Sunday 17 February.

HKJC Asian Challenge – a new platform for regional riders

The HKJC Asian Challenge, a first for the Longines Masters and a first for Asia, will on Friday night (15 February) feature experienced Hong Kong riders Jacqueline Lai and Raena Leung from the HKJC Equestrian Team alongside other leading Asian competitors from China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, and South Korea.  As part of the HKJC Trophy event, competing with top international riders, they and other Asian participants will also contest the HKJC Asian Challenge for total prize money of HK$250,000. Lai was a silver medallist at the 2013 National Games, while Leung finished 15th in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. Please refer to the factsheet for a list of riders.

 “In order to nurture young talent in the region, an HKJC Asian Junior Challenge will also be co-organised by EEM and the HKEF during the Masters, with subvention from Home Affairs Bureau, support from Leisure and Cultural Services Department and sponsorship by the HKJC,” explained Hong Kong Equestrian Federation President Michael Lee. This event on Saturday (16 February) evening featuring six top Asian riders aged under 18 will see JETS riders Fung and Capol from Hong Kong taking on other young riders from Guangdong, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia and Iran.  The same six riders will contest the HKJC Asian Junior Grand Prix on Sunday (17 February) morning. Please refer to the factsheet for a list of riders.

HKJC Race of the Riders – unique competition to Asian leg of LMHK

Another iconic highlight of the Asian Leg will be the HKJC Race of the Riders on Friday evening, when Hong Kong-based jockeys Callan, Ho, Schofield and Yeung will pair up with local equestrian riders Leung and Lai, along with Simon Delestre from France and Olivier Philippaerts from Belgium, to compete in a relay.  In the draw made during today's event, Callan was paired up with Delestre, Ho drew Lai, Schofield drew Leung and Yeung drew Philippaerts.

Reprise of Asian Games gold medal dressage performance adds new highlight

Besides heart-pounding performances by the world’s top show jumping riders and horses, the Masters always offers spectators a wide range of family-friendly activities and entertainment. This year, Jacqueline Siu, a member of the HKJC Equestrian Team, will be showcasing her first dressage performance on home ground since winning the individual gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games with her Club-sponsored horse Jockey Club Fuerst on Tour.  This same successful pair look forward to displaying their special partnership to the Hong Kong audience, with horse and rider united in perfect harmony.  The current three JETS dressage riders will be given an opportunity to learn from Jacqueline Siu by supporting her show preparations over the three days.

As part of its role as Founding Partner of the Longines Masters of Hong Kong, the Club will provide horse transportation, veterinary services, course design and site management services for the various events.  It will also sponsor local students and less privileged residents to attend the event, as a means of promoting equestrian sport in the local community.

Asia Horse Week to provide valuable forum for sport's sustainable growth in the region

Once again complementing the Masters will be the second edition of Asia Horse Week, running from Thursday 14 to Saturday 16 February, bringing together global and regional delegates from the equine industry to discuss issues ranging from equestrian development in Asia to horse breeding, veterinary regulations and horse welfare.

Asia Horse Week Chairman Raphael le Masne de Chermont said the forum provided a valuable platform for the equine industry to exchange views and facilitate the growth of equestrian sport in the region.

Confirmed speakers at Asia Horse Week include Club Chairman Dr Anthony W K Chow, President of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Ingmar De Vos, President of HKEF Michael Lee, Chief Executive of the British Horse Society Lynn Peterson, Advisor to the Japan Equestrian Federation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Dr Yasuhiko Haruta, and Consultant for the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games Equestrian Events Chang Wei. Other speakers will be coming from the Chinese Mainland, Belgium, Germany and Japan.

From its roots as a horse racing and riding club established in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has played a major role in the city’s equestrian sports development over the years. Its public riding schools, which opened in the 1970s, now attract some 80,000 local visitors of all ages each year to learn riding skills and horse care.  Equestrian sports gained in popularity following the equestrian events of the Beijing 2008 Olympics, held in Hong Kong with the Club’s support.  The HKJC Equestrian Team and HKJC Junior Equestrian Training Squad were established by the Club in the same year with the aim of developing the potential of Hong Kong’s most talented riders.  Several of its members have since won medals in international competitions.  The Club also launched the Hong Kong Equestrian Performance Plan in 2016. This merit-based programme is designed to nurture the city’s high-performing riders as they strive for equestrian excellence on the world stage.

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 charity 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 2017/18, the Club made a record return to the Government of HK$22.6 billion in duty and profits tax and contributed HK$1.2 billion to the Lotteries Fund. Approved charity donations were HK$4.2 billion. The Club is Hong Kong's largest single taxpayer and one of the city’s major employers. Its Charities Trust is also 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.