Star Power
Hong Kong is home to some of the world’s leading owners, trainers and jockeys, all attracted by Hong Kong’s competitive racing and some of the best prize money in the world.
Top trainers in recent years include John Size, Caspar Fownes, Mark Newnham, Danny Shum, Frankie Lor, Francis Lui, Tony Cruz and Ricky Yiu.
Overseas jockeys racing in Hong Kong include Zac Purton, Hugh Bowman, Karis Teetan, Lyle Hewitson, Alexis Badel, Luke Ferraris, Andrea Atzeni and Harry Bentley. Many other top jockeys visit in December for the Hong Kong International Races and International Jockeys’ Championship, as well as in April for Champions Day, including New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame rider James McDonald.
Much of Hong Kong’s racing talent is home grown, with nearly half its jockeys being graduates of the Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School. Immersion in the city’s competitive racing environment has led to some notable results. For example, Matthew Chadwick won the Hong Kong Cup in 2011 and 2012 and Derek Leung won the Hong Kong Mile in 2017. Meanwhile, Vincent Ho partnered Golden Sixty to 10 Group 1 victories before the horse’s retirement in 2024. In 2023, Ho also became the first home-grown rider to win the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship.
Several alumni of the Apprentice Jockeys’ School have gone on to become successful horse trainers after careers in the saddle. These include such well-known names as Tony Cruz, Francis Lui, Frankie Lor, Ricky Yiu, Danny Shum and Manfred Man.
