The equestrian events of the 15th National Games, supported by The Hong Kong Jockey Club (the Club), are currently in full swing at the Shenzhen Guangming International Equestrian Center. Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao and Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges today (12 Nov) visited Shenzhen to award medals to winning riders of the individual dressage event and cheer on Club colleagues who are providing professional support on-site.

The National Games, held once every four years, are the nation’s highest-level and largest multi-sports event. This year Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao are co-hosting the National Games for the first time. Representing the HKSAR, Club-supported rider Annie Ho on board Club-sponsored horse Lord Sandro K entered today’s individual dressage final in 5th place. She scored 66.935 points and placed seventh. Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded to riders representing Xinjiang, Shanghai and Guangdong respectively.

Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao congratulated all winning medallists for their outstanding showcase of dressage talent. He said, “Their performances exemplify the high quality of equestrian sport that is fast emerging across the nation. As a world-class sports and entertainment organisation, the Club is a staunch supporter of the country’s national and international sports events. We look forward to further nurturing the growth of equine sports in the Greater Bay Area.”

Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said, “My sincere appreciation and congratulations to the three winning medallists in the individual dressage competition. I would also like to commend our Hong Kong Jockey Club team for their professional support for the equestrian events. They are an outstanding example of the Club’s world-class excellence and the significant contribution it is making to equestrian sport and the equine industry in the Chinese Mainland.”

In support of the National Games, the Club has committed over HK$500 million to the Hong Kong and Guangdong Competition Regions. It is the sole Partner Sponsor of the Hong Kong Competition Region.

In the Guangdong Competition Region, the Club is providing technical support for the equestrian events, leveraging its extensive experience in organising horse sports competitions 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.

Notably, for the first time at the National Games, an on-site equine hospital with a fully equipped operating theatre and a blood testing laboratory have been set up with support from the Club, comprehensively enhancing the welfare protection standards for the equestrian events. 

The Club has deployed a large team of experts - including veterinarians, equestrian sports and facilities management specialists, master farriers and laboratory technicians – to provide professional support for the events. If any participating horse is seriously injured and requires emergency support, the Club's experts are on standby to conduct surgery and provide professional clinical veterinary services.

In addition to providing on-site support, the Club’s Racing Laboratory, commissioned by the China Anti-Doping Agency, is responsible for testing urine and blood samples from competing horses to detect any history of doping that could affect performance. As one of only five approved laboratories appointed by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), the Racing Laboratory’s high-standard testing services will help ensure a high level of integrity for the equestrian events.

Jockey Club supports the equestrian events through “Five Connections”

With the strong support and co-operation of government departments at the national, Guangdong, Guangzhou and Shenzhen levels, the Club has drawn on the substantial expertise of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Conghua Racecourse and achieved institutional innovation through enhancing "Five Connections". Specifically, the Club is sharing its veterinary expertise, helping to provide key veterinary drugs, lending specialist equipment, carrying out anti-doping testing, and promoting horse welfare – all with the aim of ensuring high-quality equestrian events. This is a model of close co-operation between Guangdong and Hong Kong in building a "Sports Bay Area" and an exemplar of regulatory alignment within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The Club 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.

As sole Partner Sponsor of the Hong Kong Competition Region, the Club is supporting volunteer service programmes, territory-wide community and school promotional activities, as well as initiatives to help underprivileged groups and young people attend the events as spectators. Some 100 members of the Club’s Volunteer Team are also helping out as Group Volunteers in the Hong Kong Competition Region.

Apart from providing high-quality support for the equestrian events in Shenzhen, the Club is also supporting the official activities, volunteer services and promotion work in the Guangdong Competition Region.

To recognise the achievements of Hong Kong athletes at the 15th National Games, the Club is sponsoring the Hong Kong Sports Institute to provide cash incentives to medal winners under the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme.

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.