HKJC boss Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges offers his views on various key chalenges facing the sport right now.
Worldwide view from WEB
Just after 7am in Pacific Coffee overlooking Victoria Harbour and the sign on the wall quotes T.S. Eliot’s Prufrock character saying: “I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.”
‘I think we’re gonna’ need a bigger spoon’ is the phrase that comes to mind for a few British visitors who ran a massive race on Thursday night but this is no time to miss the break.
Friday morning in HKIR week sees HKJC boss Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges chew the fat with global media and the most influential executive in racing is crystal clear on various key topics:
What to expect this weekend
Wednesday’s International Jockeys’ Challenge at Happy Valley was something special and the depth we have for the LONGINES International Races on Sunday is tremendous. Personally, I really feel we can look forward to the greatest show on turf.
Romantic Warrior
He is an amazing horse. Our Japanese friends are very gung-ho regarding Liberty Island in Sunday’s Hong Kong Cup and I think she will be a tremendous opponent but I feel Romantic Warrior is better this year as he was definitely feeling the effects of his Cox Plate win at this time twelve months ago.
James McDonald coming to HK full time
I have mentioned before that it is not now but is a matter of time. James has a very good relationship with Chris (Waller) in Australia and he will look at all the circumstances – and the competition - to see when is the best opportunity to come here.
The importance of engaging Gen-Z
This is vital. The main customer base of most jurisdictions is aged 50 plus and in 15 or 20 years that critical mass is gone. One of the biggest threats I see globally is the social acceptability of racing. If you cannot convince a younger set that racing is an entertaining form of leisure then the significant challenges we face will become even bigger.
Horse welfare
Science is the key. You cannot eliminate risk in any sport but if you do everything to protect the athlete during and after their racing careers then you help gain acceptability. The Horseracing and Integrity Safety Authority in America has made a big difference in areas of breakdowns and medication and, without HISA, I think racing in the US would be in very bad shape.
Racing in Mainland China
You will see the whole deal at Conghua Racecourse this time next year with the grandstand completed in readiness for running six or seven meetings in 2026. This has been one of the most challenging and interesting projects I have been involved with and the establishment of the training centre at Conghua – and the performance of horses who are based there - is a major milestone in the development of Hong Kong racing. Ka Ying Rising has been there and it really helps certain horses, especially if they are a little bit highly strung.
Ka Ying Rising
We have had tremendous sprinters, and he still has to prove himself in G1 company, but I think he could be the best we have seen in Hong Kong. Gate 11 in the Sprint on Sunday is a test but Zac has ridden many good horses and even he is excited.
The Anti-Gambling Lobby
Failure to manage the whole gaming sector properly has created a strong anti-gambling lobby in some jurisdictions. Games of skill like horse racing have a much lesser risk of creating addiction issues than games of chance and therefore we must reposition racing because the intellectual challenge of solving the puzzle is central to the sport.
Affordability Checks
First, they have given bookmakers a wonderful way to close the accounts of people who are successful. And secondly, they have created an incentive to go to the illegal market. The figures from the UK show how much turnover has gone down and a lot of this has clearly gone offshore.
Demoting winners who break whip rules
Interference disqualification is something our customers will accept but they will not accept a horse being disqualified for use of the whip. I respect that other jurisdictions have a different view but we must look after the customers who provide sixty per cent of World Pool turnover and if we had a winner who was disqualified on the day then we would void the race and pay back all bets as a principle.
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