The Equestrian Federation of Hong Kong, China (EFHKC) and The Hong Kong Jockey Club (the Club) announced today (13 October) the selection of 11 horse-and-rider combinations to represent the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) at the 15th National Games. The equestrian events will take place from 10 to 19 November at the Guangming International Equestrian Centre in Shenzhen.

The HKSAR has been sending a delegation to the National Games since 1997, with the equestrian team participating in seven consecutive National Games. This year, the team boasts its largest-ever squad of 11 horse-and-rider pairs, who will compete in all categories including the individual and team events of the three disciplines - Show Jumping, Dressage, and Eventing.

All equestrian team members have received elite training with support from the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) and from the Club’s Hong Kong Equestrian Performance Plan and Youth Equestrian Development Programme, ensuring they are well-prepared for the competition. Five riders will make their National Games debut, namely Samantha Chan, Angel Chen, Isaac Wong, Yuxuan Su and Joyce Shen. All of them are progressed from the Club’s Youth Equestrian Development Programme and have exceptional potential as Hong Kong’s new generation of equestrian talent.

Lester Huang, President of the Equestrian Federation of Hong Kong, China and Deputy Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club congratulated the riders. He said, “Our riders have shown extraordinary commitment in their preparation for the National Games. With the unwavering support of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Hong Kong Sports Institute, they have a strong foundation for success. The increased size of our team this year reflects the steady growth of equestrian sports in Hong Kong. I extend my gratitude to every rider and team member for their dedication and wish them the best of luck in showcasing their talent and making Hong Kong proud.”

Bee Chan, Senior Manager, Equestrian (Public Riding School) at The Hong Kong Jockey Club will be the HKSAR equestrian team’s Chef d’Equipe at the 15th National Games. Chan represented the HKSAR in the 1997 and 2001 National Games, 1998 and 2010 Asian Games, and as a coach for the Hong Kong, China equestrian team at the 2008 Paralympics Games. With his extensive experience in international and regional competitions, Chan will guide and inspire the equestrian athletes as they compete on the national stage.

HKSAR equestrian achievements at previous National Games:

• 2009 National Games, Shandong
  • Show Jumping Individual Gold (Patrick Lam)
  • Show Jumping Individual Bronze (Kenneth Cheng)
  • Team Bronze (Patrick Lam, Jacqueline Lai, Samantha Lam, Kenneth Cheng)

• 2013 National Games, Liaoning
  • Show Jumping Individual Silver (Jacqueline Lai)

• 2017 National Games, Tianjin
  • Dressage Individual Silver (Jacqueline Siu)
  • Show Jumping Individual Bronze (Clarissa Lyra)

Among these highlights, Patrick Lam’s gold medal at the 2009 National Games was a historic success. Not only was it the first gold medal for the HKSAR equestrian team, but also the only gold medal won by any sport apart from cycling since the HKSAR delegation joined the Games in 1997, underscoring the strength and potential of Hong Kong’s equestrian athletes.

Jockey Club to provide technical support for the equestrian events

The Club is a world-class horse sports and entertainment organisation with a strong commitment to the country and Hong Kong. It has long been a staunch supporter of the nation’s major sports events, including the equestrian events of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games and the recent 19th Hangzhou Asian Games.

For this year’s 15th National Games, 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG), the Club has committed over HK$500 million to support the Hong Kong and Guangdong competition regions. It is the sole Partner Sponsor for the Hong Kong competition region, where it will support volunteer service programmes, territory-wide community and school promotional activities, and initiatives enabling underprivileged groups and young people to attend the events as spectators.

In the Guangdong competition region, the Club will provide technical support for the equestrian events in six areas: (1) venue design, (2) horse welfare, (3) anti-doping, (4) stable management, (5) event service and support, (6) publicity and community engagement. The Club will also deploy an expert team to provide support and equipment for the events, with the aim of helping to ensure they will be conducted at a high standard. Additionally, the Club will support official activities, volunteer services and promotion work in the Guangdong competition region. The Club hopes that its participation will further develop equestrian sport at the national level, especially within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The Club is a long-standing supporter of equestrian sport through its public riding schools and the HKJC Equestrian Team, established after the Beijing 2008 Olympics to develop elite riders in Hong Kong. In 2016, the Club, in collaboration with the EFHKC, launched the Hong Kong Equestrian Performance Plan (HKEPP) to provide high-level coaching and professional support to equestrian riders. In 2017, the HKEPP was extended to include para equestrian riders. In 2019, the HKJC Youth Equestrian Development Programme was introduced in collaboration with the Club, the EFHKC and the HKSI to nurture future talent. In 2022, the programme was further expanded with the addition of the Youth Squad (Mainland), supporting young, talented Hong Kong athletes based full-time in the Mainland.

Appendix: Hong Kong SAR equestrian team at the 15th National Games

The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class sports and entertainment organisation 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 2024/25, the Club returned a total of HK$39.1 billion to the community. This included HK$30.1 billion to the HKSAR Government in duty, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions and HK$9.0 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 one of the world’s leading charity donors.

The Equestrian Federation of Hong Kong, China
The Equestrian Federation of Hong Kong, China is the official governing body representing equestrian sports in Hong Kong at both national and international levels. The Federation receives support from the Leisure and Cultural Service Department, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and the Hong Kong Sports Institute, and plans, organizes and manages Hong Kong, China's equestrian athletes for international games. The Federation serves as the exclusive representative of Hong Kong, China in international equestrian events, providing a range of resources and opportunities to support the development of local equestrian athletes, including training, funding, and guidance for both local and overseas riders. Additionally, the Federation is dedicated to ensuring the welfare of horses, and is committed to promoting equestrian sports to the wider public. To this end, the Federation hosts seminars and demonstrations featuring world-renowned equestrian professionals aimed at providing educational opportunities for equestrian judges and officials.