Close to 50 representatives from leading equestrian federations, regional horse clubs and the equine industry gathered at AsiaWorld-Expo today (14 February) for the second Asia Horse Week, aiming to exchange views with counterparts from around the world and hone strategies for further developing equine sport in Asia.
 
Organised by EEM and sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club as Founding Partner, Asia Horse Week was established last year to add a new dimension to the Longines Masters of Hong Kong, one of the most highly-regarded five-star equestrian competitions in the world, which is also taking place this weekend.  Topics being covered during the conference include horse breeding, sports development, veterinary regulations and horse welfare.
 
Addressing delegates at this morning’s opening ceremony, Club Chairman Dr Anthony W K Chow noted that Hong Kong had a long and distinguished tradition of equine sport.  “Horse racing has been an integral part of our city for over 130 years and is globally recognised for its world-class quality,” he said.  “Hong Kong horses regularly feature in the top echelon of the world rankings, while we are home to no less than twelve international Group 1 races.” The past few years had also seen the city make great strides in equestrian sport, Dr Chow added.  “Hong Kong riders have won medals at both national and international levels, including our first-ever Asian Games equestrian gold medal last summer.”
 
Dr Chow added that the Club’s new Conghua Racecourse, which opened last August, was ideally placed to support the future development of equine sport and the equine industry in China, especially the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.  It was the first world-class racecourse and training centre in the Mainland, he noted, and was also located in the Mainland’s only large-scale internationally recognised equine disease-free zone.
 
Notable speakers today included Chief Executive of the British Horse Society Lynn Petersen; World Horse Welfare Chief Executive Roly Owers; FEI Veterinary Director Göran Åkerström; the Club’s Head of Veterinary Regulation, Welfare and Biosecurity Policy Dr Brian Stewart and Executive Manager for Equestrian Affairs Amanda Bond; Hong Kong’s Asian Games dressage gold medallist, HKJC Equestrian Team member Jacqueline Siu; and China’s first Olympic equestrian rider Alex Hua Tian.  They contributed to three sessions covering horse welfare, trainer education and horse movement.
 
Tomorrow’s programme will have a strong focus on the sport’s development in Asia, with the speakers including Hong Kong Equestrian Federation President Michael Lee, Advisor to the Japan Equestrian Federation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Dr Yasuhiko Haruta, and Consultant for the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games Chang Wei.
 
On Friday evening, all eyes will turn to the jumping arena at AsiaWorld-Expo, where the opening night of the Longines Masters of Hong Kong 2019 will feature the HKJC Race of the Riders – a unique event in which four Hong Kong jockeys partner local and international equestrian stars – as well as the top-level HKJC Trophy contest and the HKJC Asian Challenge run in parallel.  The Asian Challenge is one of three new regional and junior events being sponsored by the Club this year to provide up-and-coming Asian riders with an opportunity to showcase their talents in front of a large audience at a major arena. The three-day Longines Masters of Hong Kong also serves as the second leg of the 2018/19 Grand Slam Indoor of Show Jumping.
 
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 sport 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 sport 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.