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HK Sale Electric; Flying Spur Tops

With a small catalog and eager buyers, the Hong Kong International Sale saw a healthy gross and average Saturday, the day before the Cathay Pacific International Races. Both events are at Sha Tin Racecourse.

Successful Inbreeding to Siblings

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Alan Porter has been intrigued for a long time by the potential upgrading effects of inbreeding through brothers, sisters, three-parts brothers and sisters, and other close relatives. Naturally, the top international group I winners Ramonti and Good Ba Ba attracted his attention because they are two interesting examples of inbreeding via siblings.

Commentary: Another World

By - Dan Liebman - On Dec. 9, the Cathay Pacific International Races were held in Hong Kong. The following day, the Breeders' Cup announced it was adding three new races to its World Championships program. The terms "international" and "world" may imply the same thing, but there is little that is similar about the two events.

Ramonti Leads Way in Hong Kong

Godolphin has big day in Hong Kong, with a win and second in the International Races. Ramonti wins the Cup to highlight the event.

Post Draw Held for Hong Kong Races

Jockey and trainer differ on gate seven for Vengeance of Rain in Sunday's Hong Kong Cup (HK-I).

Whyte Earns Top Honors in IJC

Douglas Whyte aimed for a record and stole a title in a remarkable night of action at Happy Valley Racecourse Dec. 5, with an adoring public roaring their approval for the new Cathay Pacific International Jockeys Championship hero.

Miss Andretti Gets Top Aussie Award

Miss Andretti is widely regarded as the best sprinter on the planet. She leads the Global Sprint Challenge, is now in Hong Kong readying herself for the $2.5-million Cathay Pacific International Sprint (HK-I), and on Nov. 26 in Australia she was crowned Australian Racehorse of the Year.

Hawkes Bay Gets Hong Kong Invite

The Hong Kong Jockey Club extended a late invitation Nov. 25 to connections of Hawkes Bay to join a star-studded international lineup in the HK$14-million Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase (HKgr.I) at Sha Tin Racecourse Dec. 9.

Dylan Thomas Out of Japan Cup

Dylan Thomas, who was recently named Cartier Horse of the Year and top older horse in Europe, is no longer a contender for the Nov. 25 Japan Cup (Jpn-I) due to not testing negative for equine viral arteritis.

Close Call for Hong Kong Jockey

Darren Beadman is poised to make an astonishing recovery from a potentially serious knee injury inflicted when an unraced 3-year-old went berserk in the barriers before the second race at Sha Tin Racecourse Nov. 17.

Absolute Champion Goes On

If a comprehensive defeat at the hands of Sacred Kingdom yesterday dented David Hall's hopes for a repeat win in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (HK-II) with Absolute Champion, the Australian horseman never let on.

Major Hong Kong Races Shaping Up

The Hong Kong Jockey Club will be announcing the invitees for the Cathay Pacific International Races Nov. 21, and it seems the club has succeeded in attracting its second Breeders' Cup winner to the "turf world championships."

Viva Pataca Deserves More Respect

Trainer John Moore is incensed the some racing commentators are favoring Packing Winner over his Viva Pataca in the Hong Kong Cup (HK-I).

Look for More From Viva Pataca

Jockey Darren Beadman has warned punters to expect a "significantly more advanced" version of Stanley Ho Hung-sun's champion stayer Viva Pataca in Sunday's HK$3 million Cathay Pacific International Cup Trial (HK-II) at Sha Tin.

Japanese Quarantine Agreed Upon

Quarantine protocols will be enacted to enable Japanese horses to compete in the 2007 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races.

Beadman Licensed for Return to Hong Kong

Australia's champion jockey, Darren Beadman, is returning to Hong Kong to serve as the retained rider for top trainer John Moore.

Big Numbers as Racing Returns to Hong Kong

Attendance was up 60% to 63,566 from the corresponding day last year, and handle increased 12.5% to HK$825 million on opening day of the Hong Kong racing season at Sha Tin racecourse.

Report: Viva Pataca Will Pass on Breeders' Cup

It appears as though Viva Pataca will not become the first Hong Kong-based runner to compete in the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Viva Pataca Could Be Hong Kong's First BC Runner

The equine influenza outbreak in Australia has had an unexpected positive implication for the Breeders' Cup World Championships, as Hong Kong-based Viva Pataca is now scheduled to compete at Monmouth Park and become Hong Kong's first runner on racing's biggest day in the United States.

Tax Rates, Regulations Called Key to Hong Kong Growth

The chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club said tax rates and regulations need to be reviewed in order for the racing entity to compete at a time of great change.

U.S. Commingling of Bets on Hong Kong Races Approved

Horseplayers in the United States will be able to wager directly into Hong Kong Jockey Club pools under a plan approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission.

A Day At The Spa: Aug. 4, Notes From Nader

Former NYRA executive Bill Nader is visiting from Hong Kong, where he's the director of racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Hong Kong Wagering Tops HK$100 Billion for First Time

Handle during the multi-faceted Hong Kong Jockey Club racing season topped the HK$100-billion mark for the first time in 2006-07, but officials said there's still much work to be done.

Nader Discusses New Position with HKJC

The Hong Kong Jockey Club named Bill Nader, senior vice president and chief operating officer of the New York Racing Association, as its executive director of racing. The HKJC made the announcement March 15, and Nader is expected to assume his new position April 23. He agreed to serve in his new role for a minimum of three years.

Australian Jockey Munce Sentenced to 30 Months in Hong Kong Jail

According to published reports, Australian jockey Chris Munce was sentenced to 30 months in jail March 1 by a Hong Kong court. Munce, 37, was found guilty of conspiring to trade race tips in return for bets and was taken into custody pending an appeal by his legal team. He is the first jockey to be sentenced for such an offense in Hong Kong.

Breeders' Cup, Hong Kong Jockey Club Announce Marketing Partnership

The group I Hong Kong Jockey Club Champions Mile will become the first race held outside the United States in the new Breeders' Cup Challenge, a series of official qualifying races for the Breeders' Cup World Championships, officials of Breeders' Cup Limited announced Feb. 23 in conjunction with the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Hong Kong Hero Silent Witness Bows Out Sunday

Silent Witness, the most successful horse in the history of Hong Kong racing, will be retired after his run in the Centenary Sprint Cup (HK-I) on Sunday.

Willmot Sees Dark Future Without Cooperation on Simulcasting

A racetrack operator is calling on tracks to take control of simulcasts, which now produce about 85% of pari-mutuel handle in North America.

Fast Parade Bounces Back After Bad HK Trip

Fast Parade has bounced back from his aborted start in the Hong Kong Sprint (HK-I) and is likely to race in early January at Santa Anita. Trainer Peter Miller said that the gelding's blood count returned to normal once he got back to his home base of San Luis Rey Downs training center in Southern California.

Takeover Target Withdrawn from Hong Kong Cup

Stewards have revealed that the drug in Takeover Target, who was ordered scratched from the HK$20 million Hong Kong Cup, contained 17 parts alpha-hydroxyprogesterone hexonate. This showed up the day the horse arrived in Hong Kong from Japan in early November and again in four subsequent checks.

HKJC Olympic Equestrian Facilities Progressing

The Hong Kong Jockey Club reported on the progress of its construction of new facilities for the 2008 Olympic equestrian events during the week of its Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races. While the 2008 Olympic Games will be held in Beijing, the equestrian events will be held in Hong Kong.

Peslier Captures Hong Kong Jockey Battle

Olivier Peslier of France took his second title in the Cathay Pacific International Jockeys' Championship Wednesday night at Happy Valley racecourse in Hong Kong.

Takeover Target Has Taken His Owner/Trainer from Obscurity to the Top

When they line up for Hong Kong's International Day of racing Dec. 10, Australian trainer Joe Janiak will not be wearing a top hat and tails. He did of course do just that when in England earlier this year with his potential movie star horse Takeover Target. After Takeover Target won the King's Stand (Eng-II) Stakes at Ascot, people wanted to know who these unlikely stars were.

Engelbrecht-Bresges to Head Hong Kong Jockey Club

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges has been appointed chief executive officer-designate of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and will take over from Lawrence Wong Feb. 1, 2007.

Irridescence Recovered From Dubai Paddock Accident

Team Valor's Irridescence, who was withdrawn from the recent Dubai Duty Free (UAE-I) after a paddock accident at Nad al Sheba March 25, has recovered from the incident and will make her next start on April 23 in Hong Kong.

Silent Witness Well Beaten as Scintillation Takes Centenary Sprint

The immediate racing future of Silent Witness will be decided in the coming days after the world's leading sprinter last year finished seventh behind winner Scintillation at Sha Tin on Sunday.

'Vengeance' Takes World Racing Championships Title; Ouija Board Victorious

An aborted plan to race in Australia earlier this season ended up benefiting Vengeance Of Rain, who on Dec. 11 won not only the group I, HK$18-million Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin racecourse but also the title as champion of the World Racing Championships.

Danehill Colt Tops International Sale at HK$3 Million

A 2-year-old colt by Danehill sold for HK$3 million ($386,847) to top the Dec. 10 Hong Kong International Sale, an auction held for the purpose of getting well-bred racing prospects into the hands of Hong Kong-based owners.

In Hong Kong, 'International' Goes Beyond Racing

As Thoroughbreds from around the world made their final preparations for the Dec. 11 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races, international eyes also were focused on the World Trade Organization ministerial conference set to begin in downtown Hong Kong two days later.

Designed For Luck, 'Missile' Scratched in Hong Kong

United States-based Designed For Luck and Great Britain-based Majestic Missile were withdrawn Dec. 9 from the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile (HK-I) and the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (HK-I), respectively. The races are two of four group I events to be run Dec. 11 at Sha Tin racecourse.

U.S. Connections Like What They See in Hong Kong

The connections of United States-based runners seemed no less satisfied after the post-position draw for the Dec. 11 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin racecourse. In all, the four group I grass races, worth a total of HK$64 million, lured 49 horses from around the world.

German Starke Wins Second Hong Kong Title

Top German jockey Andrasch Starke won his second international jockeys' championship at Happy Valley racecourse in Hong Kong Dec. 7 and took home the first-place check of HK$200,000 for his efforts.

Alkaased Takes Pass on Vase; Sold to Stud

Japan Cup (Jpn-I) winner Alkaased won't compete in the HK$14-million Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase after all.

Japan Cup Winner Alkaased Eyes Hong Kong Vase

Japan Cup (Jpn-I) winner Alkaased is just one of many international standouts expected for the Dec. 11 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin Racecourse.

Korea Hosts First International Jockey Competition

In an effort to promote Korea's horseracing industry and its place in global racing, the Korean Racing Association conducted its first International Jockey Invitation Races May 21-22 at Seoul Racecourse.

Hong Kong Seeks Ways to Bolster Legal Gambling

Hong Kong's government is considering tax reform, a longer racing season, and new betting methods as it attempts to boost legal wagering on horse racing after losing ground to illegal and overseas gambling operators.

Silent Witness Rolls to 15th Straight Victory

Renowned Asian sprinter Silent Witness stretched his unbeaten record to 15 when he romped to victory in the $576,900 Centenary Sprint Cup at Sha Tin (HK-I) Sunday night.

Silent Witness Still Perfect With Bauhinia Win

Silent Witness cruised to a 1 3/4-length victory over stablemate Country Music in Sunday's $576,000 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy at Sha Tin racecourse, extending his perfect record to 14-for-14 in the first leg of Hong Kong's championship sprint series.

Hong Kong Seeks Tax Change to Boost Handle

The Hong Kong Jockey Club is negotiating with the government over the way racing wagers are taxed. The organization is confident a change from a per-bet tax to a flat tax on total handle could increase betting pools.

Alexander Goldrun First Filly to Claim Hong Kong Cup Title

Irish-bred Alexander Goldrun became the first filly to win the HK$18 million (US$2,319,289) Hong Kong Cup (HK-I) by edging out American-bred Bullish Luck at the wire by a short head at Sha Tin Racecourse Sunday. Touch of Land was three-quarters of a length back for third.