The Hong Kong Jockey Club (“the Club”) announced today (27 June) the opening of the Horse Racing Multi-Function Room at the Guangdong Vocational Institute of Sport (“GDVIS”) in Huangcun, Guangzhou. The facility will serve as a training base for the dual-curriculum “Professional Sports Training Course (Horse Racing)” programme, comprising both academic and vocational training, under the Club’s partnership with GDVIS. It paves the way for the programme’s commencement in September as a “school-enterprise cooperation” model to nurture racing talent and further develop vocational training in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (“GBA”).

The unveiling ceremony for the Horse Racing Multi-Function Room was attended by Feng Wei, Deputy Director-General of the Guangdong Provincial Government Department of Education; Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Ma Guochuan, Secretary of Party Committee of Guangdong Vocational Institute of Sport; Xu Ji, Principal of Guangdong Vocational Institute of Sport; Albert Chow, Executive Director of Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications; Li Xuechan, Director of Guangdong Open University Academic Credit Bank Administration Centre, and other guests.

The Club’s Executive Director, Racing, Andrew Harding said that the Club is deeply committed to leveraging its expertise in talent development to contribute to Guangdong-Hong Kong cooperation in sports and national equine industry development, “We are delighted to work with GDVIS to establish this dual-curriculum programme. It will provide high-quality vocational training and hands-on opportunities to prepare students for joining the equine industry in the GBA in the future, while also providing talent for the Club to stage regular international-standard racing at Conghua Racecourse starting in 2026.”

Deputy Director-General of the Department of Education of Guangdong Province, Feng Wei, said: “As an implementation of the ‘Outline Development Plan of the GBA’ and other similar policies, the Horse Racing Multi-Function Room jointly created by the Club and GDVIS promotes the integration of vocational education between Guangdong and Hong Kong. It is of great significance in deepening the creation and reform of a modern vocational education system, cultivating sports talents in the GBA and fostering high-quality development of the GBA’s sports industry.”

The curriculum of the Professional Sports Training Course (Horse Racing) is designed with reference to the racing certificate programmes offered by the Club in Hong Kong. The Certificate in Racing (Riding) has recently been selected for a pilot scheme under the Quality Assurance mechanism of the Guangdong Lifelong Education Qualifications Framework. The Guangdong Academic Credit Bank has completed its professional review and will confirm whether the programme meets the evaluation standards and requirements under the Guangdong Lifelong Education Qualifications Framework. The Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications also attended its on-site inspection.

HKSAR Government Under Secretary for Education Jeff Sze delivered a congratulatory message in a video speech at the unveiling ceremony saying he is pleased to see the Jockey Club and GDVIS come together to organise the dual-curriculum programme to nurture national racing talent in the Mainland, “The curriculum comes at a time when the government is committed to providing students with diversified, high-quality education and promoting whole-person development.”

Since the Club and GDVIS began collaborating in 2018, and in response to the National Equine Industry Development Plan (2020-2025), both parties have continued to work together to develop talent for the equine industry. The Club and GDVIS signed the “School Partnership Collaborative Agreement” during a meeting of the Guangdong-Hong Kong Equine Industry Collaboration Task Force in November 2023 to jointly launch the dual-curriculum programme, which comprises academic and vocational training. 

Located in the Teaching Building of GDVIS with an area of 108 square metres, the brand-new, aesthetically modern Horse Racing Multi-Function Room is a significant result of collaboration between the Club and GDVIS.

The first batch of Mainland students, aged around 15 and 16, will receive equine-industry training starting in September 2024, in areas including riding, stable management and sports science. Racing legend Felix Coetzee, Chief Riding Instructor of the Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School, who won over 3,500 races during his career as a jockey, will be the programme’s Chief Instructor for Specialised Courses.

The Club and GDVIS have received the governments’ full endorsement of the programme, which has been integrated into the Mainland’s sports education system. Depending on their potential and performance, students may be sent abroad for further studies during the training period. Upon graduation, students will receive a recognised qualification from government-run higher education institutions as well as a Certificate in Racing (equivalent to Hong Kong Qualification Framework Level 3).

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 HKSAR Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2022/23, the Club returned a total of HK$35.9 billion to the community. This included HK$28.6 billion to the HKSAR Government in duty, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions and HK$7.3 billion in approved charity donations. 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.