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Joni,
This link should help you. http://campaigns.hkjc.com/hkir/en/go-racing-tourist-offer
It is free to attend in the public stand with showing the passport on that day. A huge crowd is expected in the public stand (probably 60K). It may not be easy to get between paddock and trackside as the paddock is behind the main stand.
This link shows the general information for Shatin Racecourse:
http://entertainment.hkjc.com/entertainment/english/go-racing/sha-tin-racecourse.aspxHi Jonibake,
Thank you for your kind words.
As a tourist bringing your non-HK passport showing you have been in HK less than 21 days, you can buy for HKD 190 (GBP 19) a Tourist Badge:
which will give you a better experience than the no-passport-gets-you-general-admission for HKD 10 (GBP 96 pence) to the Public Enclosure.
Tourist badge goes on sale earliest 10 days before the meeting from HKJC betting outlets around town, or can be had on the day at the track. Never known them get sold out, and not sure you can book them earlier than those 10 days.
Easiest way to get to Sha Tin Racecourse is by MTR (ie HK subway). The course has its own MTR stop open on racedays. You want the East Rail Line and make sure the train stops at Racecourse (the broken-light-blue-line that diverts around Fo Tan station), located at 12 o’clock on the MTR map here:
http://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/services/system_map.html
What you can reserve are the many restaurants, but again its more fun to pick and choose on the day and the ones you access in Members via the tourist badge – though always very busy – I have never seen totally sold out.
Alternative to the above, local coach/ tour companies for a price will sell you a Racing Package where they pick you up and drop you off at your hotel by coach, shepherd you in/out of the course and plonk you down at reserved table section with buffet – but where’s the adventure in that ?
Either way, I would recommend that, rather than just waiting for the Racing Post supplement in the South China Morning Post on the day, you do your study on the HKJC website beforehand (including its voluminous racecards) and watch the HKJC TV preview programme Racing To Win the night before.
And familiarise yourself with the various HKJC tote betting slips (grab a stash from the nearest off-course betting shop round the city):
http://special.hkjc.com/racing/info/en/betting/guide_fill.asp
If multiples are your thing, you need the All-Up pools, which translate UK multiples according to this table:
http://special.hkjc.com/racing/info/en/betting/guide_chance_all.asp
(eg yankee = 4 x 11).
have fun !
Wow! Thank you so much Patrick and Wit for your advice – very much appreciated. I don’t suppose either of you will be there? If so would be great to meet up. I can’t wait – looks a fantastic card! I’ll go to Happy Valley as well on the Wednesday. Hoping one of the Frankel’s might run…..
Thanks again guys!
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
Jonibake,
Happy Valley for the first-timer can be a bit more of an effort than Sha Tin, paradoxically because it is in town.
The nearest MTR stop is Causeway Bay (ie Times Square), a bit of a walk away not best signposted and you need to cross some major roads in evening rush hour. Taxi would be better but for traffic jams.
http://entertainment.hkjc.com/entertainment/english/go-racing/happy-valley-racecourse.aspx
HV is far more compact/cramped than ST, to the point that you need to exit onto the street and re-enter to move between certain course facilities, which can confuse.
Also Wednesday evenings are marketed differently to Sunday afternoons- as much a Lan Kwai Fong-style Night in the Beer Garden for boy-meets-girl young professionals, as for racing enthusiasts, so policed by HKJC staff perhaps more like a nightclub than a racetrack: just a different mix of audience.
If ever you were minded to ask your hotel concierge to book you on a Come Horseracing Tour, the added-value is likely greater for a Happy Valley night meeting than for Sha Tin:
At the moment its looking unlikely that I will make it this time around but I can message you through TRF if that changes.
Joni,
As wit suggested, tourist badge is a better package for you. The member stand is generally less busy than the public stand and closer to the paddock and the track. You may also refer to the link below for the map of Happy Valley racecourse:
http://entertainment.hkjc.com/entertainment/english/go-racing/happy-valley-racecourse.aspx (Opening time for Happy Valley will be 4:45 next Wed as there will be 9 races, 1 more than usual)
For Happy Valley racecourse, the paddock is just next the finish line. So you can stay there to get most of the actions. In the past few years, International Jockey Championship involves Race 4, 5, 7 and 8, 3 of them over 1650m and one over 1000m. Before the race 4, there is an opening ceremony on the track and in front of the stand (if the weather allows) and there should be a firework display. After the race 8, the trophy presentation will take place at the same place as the opening ceremony. You can have a close look of the jockeys if you are on the public stand side of the paddock after the trophy presentation. I believe it is quite good to stay around the Beer Garden for those 1650m races as the races start in front of the stands.
For transportation, I will recommend you travel to the racecourse by tram (known as Ding Ding among locals). Link for the route map: https://www.hktramways.com/en/interactive-map/
There is a terminal at Happy Valley and the walk to the public stand entrance only takes 5 mins. It takes around 30 mins if you take the tram in Wanchai. Only trams showing Happy Valley as terminal will stop in Happy Valley otherwise you may find yourself getting somewhere else.
For the International Meeting, there should be a closing ceremony after race 10 (around 6pm). A longer firework display will close the meeting.
I believe I will not be at Shatin for the International Meeting. But it may be possible to attend next Wednesday (it depends when leaving office
).Joni, final suggestion:
Make sure one of the first things you do on arrival in HK is to get yourself an Octopus Card and load it up with a few hundred HKD (max load is HKD 1,000):
http://www.hongkong.net/transportation/octopus-card
Octopus started out like the Oyster card used on public transport in London, but it is much more developed: aside from paying fares on MTR, Airport Express, buses, trams, ferries, etc you can also use it to pay not only for bakery goods, food and drinks on station concourses and at the airport, but also widely around town at supermarkets, convenience stores, chemists, etc.
As you can see from the link, tourists can get a version called On-Loan Octopus where the unused value is refunded to you when you return it at the end of your stay.
Guys what can I say! Thank you sooooo much for all your advice. That was way more than I was expecting or hoping for – very, very kind of you both. You have whetted my appetite even more. Do please PM me if you can make it and I’ll buy you both a beer.
Thanks again!!
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
final race of the Autumn series, the G1 Champions Cup, is run tomorrow at Chukyo (160 miles from Tokyo):
http://japanracing.jp/_news2017/171128.htmlwhere Ryan is on 10/1 shot Gold Dream:
http://japanracing.jp/_news2017/171201.htmlAndrea has no rides at all this weekend (not sure why).
Ryan’s five rides today produced 9th, 2nd, 4th, 1st and 1st, the highlight being the G2 where the first three home were ridden by Moore-Bowman-Cheminaud. Prize money won today JPY 77m (GBP 507k).
This coming week, Ryan and Bowman will be with Jonibake (and a few other people) at Happy Valley and Sha Tin:
http://campaigns.hkjc.com/hkir/en/events-ijc-jockeysJames Willoughby has queried the Longines table declaring Bowman a better jockey than Ryan:
https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/articles/why-ryan-moore-clearly-worlds-champion-jockey-2017/Sunday: Ryan wins the G1 Champions Cup by a nk and a nk, pouncing late but cosily on the outside on number 9, 13.0 chance Gold Dream: video link here:
http://japanracing.jp/en/His six rides today returned 1st, 13th, 3rd, 6th, 2nd, and 1st making winnings of (all JPY) 7.5m, -, 1.9m, -, 6.0m, and 97.0m, for a total of 112.4m (GBP 743k).
Here at Sha Tin for the biggest day of racing in Hong Kong calendar! Can’t wait!! We have a Frankel running in the 2nd race. I’m all over Talismanic and Deauville….. will post photos later
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
A close 2nd again for Simply Brilliant.
He seems to take a while to accelerate. Possibly stepping up in trip next time.
What an amazing day. Loved every second! Simply Brilliant was just denied but you are right Patrick – he’ll be winning races over further. He just lacks the zip for 1,200 metres. But the highlight was obviously the gutsy and brave Highland Reel bowing out in style. Talismanic looked all over the winner turning in but HR kept on finding and was going away at the end. He’ll make a hell of a stallion I think.
Sha Tin is a great track and the atmosphere was superb. Thanks Patrick and Wit for your advice – we got the tourist badge which gave us access to the Members and so we saw all the races from right opposite the winning line. I have posted a few piccies on our Twitter feed if anyone is interested – https://twitter.com/SpeakSpeechUK
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
Must have been fantastic being there to see Highland Reel win his race in such style Joni, and yes something to look forward too once he goes off to stud he’s such a warrior.
I actually backed Talismanic in that race because I was convinced that Kool Kompany had changed his name and was running there, they look so much alike. Just can’t help backing those horses with big white faces.
and if any horses had to beat him then I’m happy it was dear old Highland Reel. 
Would love to see some of those photos on here Joni as I don’t use my Twitter account much now.
Will be looking out for Simply Brilliant (aka Senator) when he runs again, those Frankels just keep on giving..
Enjoy the rest of your stay, would love to go there one day…Jac
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...a Lan Kwai Fong-style Night in the Beer Garden for boy-meets-girl young professionals
I’m sure Joni is rubbing his hands at this prospect
Nice photos btw Joni……..
Blackbeard to conquer the World
So, so pleased for the old warrior Highland Reel – that run epitomised everything about him – so tough, gutsy, and never-say-die – as Talismanic loomed large I really though he was gonna get past but the reel dug in, pulled out more, and eventually won going away. Magnificent stuff from one of my favourite horses of all time. What a way to bow out!
Thanks Jac – I’ll try and put the photos up when I’m back at the weekend. Yes it was great to be there for Highland Reel’s last race and witness his courage one more time. Would definitely recommend a visit out here to see the racing. They are very passionate fans and there are some nice touches like a Jockey’s competition for most points won on the main races. It is also very cheap to get in – in fact it was free on Sunday if you went in the public entrance. Lessons to be learnt here (and probably ignored!) :(
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
if still in HK, Joni:
Ho, ho, ho! Christmas is gracing Happy Valley Racecourse in the form of an ‘80s Disco party, Hollywood-style. Surprised? Fashion, music…pop culture often reinvents through recycling the coolest of the trends, and the ‘80s is no exception.
It’s time to bring back the leg warmers, fanny packs, and ripped jeans as part of your Christmas costume in full swing! On December 13 & 20th, let’s celebrate Christmas early with racing thrills and so much more:
http://happywednesday.hkjc.com/en/parties-xmas2017-intro.aspx?b_cid=EWHPSLE_HW20171207
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