With The Hong Kong Jockey Club as its Founding Partner, Longines Masters of Hong Kong (LMHK), widely regarded as the Grand Slam Indoor of Show Jumping, will take place at AsiaWorld-Expo from 14-16 February 2020. Members of the HKJC Equestrian Team, gold medallists in team jumping for Hong Kong at the recent FEI Asian Championships, are looking forward to the return of this five-star equestrian event to compete alongside top riders from around the world in Hong Kong.
 
LMHK, one of the world’s most acclaimed five-star equestrian events, is the first stop of the Longines Masters 2020 series, followed by Lausanne and Paris. Details of the eighth edition of LMHK were revealed today (12 Dec) at a press conference attended by Founder and President of Longines Masters organiser, EEM Christophe Ameeuw; Club’s Executive Director, Corporate Planning, Branding and Membership, Scarlette Leung; Hong Kong Equestrian Federation (HKEF) President Michael Lee and other  LMHK sponsors and partners. They were joined by HKJC Equestrian Team members Kenneth Cheng, Jacqueline Lai, Patrick Lam and Raena Leung, who recently represented Hong Kong at the inaugural FEI Asian Championships in Pattaya, winning medals in team and individual jumping class.
 
Club’s Executive Director, Corporate Planning, Branding and Membership, Scarlette Leung, said that the Club was delighted to continue its support for LMHK, “Aside from bringing the excitement of equestrian sport to Hong Kong, the Club’s support for the Masters is part of our wider commitment to the sport in Hong Kong.” Leung also highlighted that the Club was keen to develop the talent of Hong Kong’s younger riders and would continue to support the HKJC Asian junior competitions this year to allow more opportunities for junior riders to test themselves against fellow riders from across Asia.
 
HKJC Equestrian Team members Jacqueline Lai and Raena Leung, who participated in last year’s LMHK and who were runners-up in the HKJC Asian Challenge, said that LMHK offered them a chance to show local fans what they’ve achieved, thanks to the support from the Club. They also said it was an amazing experience to compete against other top regional and international riders in front of the home crowd.
 
Another team member Kenneth Cheng described his experience at the first and second editions of LMHK as unforgettable. Patrick Lam, the only team member who had never participated in LMHK before, said he was looking forward to participate in this five-star equestrian event at home. The two riders who will represent Hong Kong at this event will be confirmed shortly.
 
The three-day LMHK will feature six classes at CSI5* level, each offering attractive prize money. In addition, the winner of the Longines Grand Prix of Hong Kong will be eligible to compete for a Longines Masters Super Bonus of €2.25 million.
 
The highlight of the opening night is the HKJC Trophy and the HKJC Asian Challenge which will award the top three performing Asian riders with an additional HK$250,000 in prize money. Also on opening night will be the popular HKJC Races of the Riders, which is unique to the Asian leg of the Masters. The event, which connects show jumping with horse racing, will feature Hong Kong-based jockeys teaming up with top international equestrian riders to test their skills over a jumping course. Meanwhile, the HKJC Asian Junior Challenge and Grand Prix will once again provide a valuable opportunity for the region’s up-and-coming young riders to experience top-level competition.
 
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 a junior team 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 (HKEPP) in 2016. This merit-based programme is designed to nurture Hong Kong’s high-performing riders as they strive for equestrian excellence on the world stage. In 2019, it was expanded to include the HKJC Equestrian Youth Development Programme in collaboration with Hong Kong Equestrian Federation and Hong Kong Sports Institute for the development of equestrian talent from the age of 10. HKEPP currently supports a total of 43 riders in all three Olympic disciplines and para-equestrian.
 
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 2018/19, the Club made a record return to the Government of HK$23.3 billion in duty and profits tax and contributed HK$1.3 billion to the Lotteries Fund. Approved charity and community donations were HK$4.3 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.