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The Hong Kong Jockey Club Sha Tin Racecourse Stand, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

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Sha Tin Racecourse & RacesSha Tin racecourse is the home to Group 1 racing in Hong Kong. It is one of the most renowned tracks in the world which provides a first-class experience for participants and spectators.Racing at Sha Tin provides top quality action throughout the year and a great product for customers to bet on. The racing season runs from September through to June/July. The highlight is the Longines HKIR (Hong Kong International Races) meeting in mid-December. This fantastic meeting attracts the best horses from around the world with the running of four Group 1 races: Longines Hong Kong Cup, Longines Hong Kong Mile, Longines Hong Kong Sprint, and the Longines Hong Kong Vase.Sha Tin hosts approximately 46 meetings a year which includes all 12 Group 1 races run in Hong Kong. These meetings are predominantly held on Sunday afternoon in front of huge crowds and especially popular with racing purists.Located in New Territories about 18 kilometres from the CBD, it is one of two racecourses in Hong Kong along with Happy Valley.The racecourse has two grandstands with the layout providing a broad and spectacular viewing experience for guests on track.Sha Tin HistoryAs horse-racing started to grow in popularity in the 1960s in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (established in 1884) looked to add a second racetrack in addition to Happy Valley, which is in the city.In 1971 the Government approved Sha Tin racecourse at New Territories to be built on reclaimed land, with construction starting in 1973. On October 7, 1978, the racecourse opened for the first time to a crowd of 35,000 spectators.To accommodate the growing interest in racing a second grandstand was added to the Sha Tin racecourse in 1985.It is more than just a racecourse with Penfold Park in the middle of the track and open to the public on non-race days. It was opened in 1979 and is 20 acres of land which provides locals a clean and safe green environment with various leisure facilities.In 2003 the world’s largest high-resolution screen was added providing spectators with all the latest information. At 70.4 metres wide and eight metres high, it is an impressive screen.In 2008 Sha Tin racecourse played host to Equestrian events for The Games which were being held in Beijing.Sha Tin racecourse also has an all-weather dirt track in addition to the turf track, which has a shorter straight of 380 metres. It also includes other features such as an Equine hospital, Racing laboratory, Riverside gallop, and an Equine swimming pool.The racecourse today can hold 85,000 spectators and has upwards of 20 stables which can house 1,260 horses.Betting is a huge part of horse racing in Hong Kong as it generates millions of dollars which is distributed back into the community by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.Sha Tin is run by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, who is Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer. They are a not-for-profit organization and one of the biggest employers in Hong Kong. They hold a government-granted monopoly, providing tote (pari-mutuel) betting on racing, with Sha Tin today their biggest turnover venue.Join TAB with PuntersWhere is Sha Tin Racecourse?Sha Tin racecourse is in New Territories, which is approximately 18 kilometers north of the CBD and Happy Valley racecourse.The Sha Tin district is the most populated of all 18 districts in Hong Kong, with over 600,000 people.Hong Kong is divided into three territories which include: Kowloon, Hong Kong Island and New Territories. Nine of the 18 districts are in New Territories, in which Sha Tin is one of them.While this part of Hong Kong has vast areas of mountains, there are some major commercial and residential towns in the area, which includes Sha Tin.Sha Tin Track InfoTrackSha TinCircumference1900mStraight length430mTrack width30.5mDirectionClockwiseRace Distances1000m, 1200m, 1400m, 1600m, 1800m, 2000m, 2200m, 2400mAddressThe Hong Kong Jockey Club, Sha Tin Racecourse Stand, Sha Tin, New Territories.Sha Tin Track FeaturesSha Tin has two racing surfaces: Turf and All-weather (dirt). The Sha Tin turf track is oval shaped and has plenty of room with a circumference of 1900 metres and features a long home straight of 430 metres with every runner (fields are capped at 14 runners) getting a fair chance. There is usually little track bias at Sha Tin, and it is regarded as one of the best surfaces in the world. If the track does get substantial rain, then the inside part of the track can become affected.Races of 1000 metres sees horses jump from a chute which sees them gallop down the straight. The 1600 metres and 1800 metres start also have the runners starting from a chute down in the back straight.The all-weather (dirt) track on the inside has a smaller circumference of 1560 metres and a shorter home straight of 380 metres.Hong Kong Series at Sha Tin 2023/24 SeasonSummary of racing fixtures: Total – 88 meetingsSha Tin – 48 meetingsDay Fixtures 37 (incl. 29 Sundays, 2 Public Holidays)Twilight Fixtures 7 (incl. 5 Sundays, 1 Public Holiday)Night Fixtures 4Happy Valley – 40 meetingsNight Fixtures 39 (incl. 3 Thursdays, 2 Public Holidays)Day Fixtures 1DateDayDay/NightTrackFeature / Public Holiday10 Sep 2023SunDaySha Tin13 Sep 2023WedNightHappy Valley17 Sep 2023SunDaySha Tin20 Sep 2023WedNightHappy Valley24 Sep 2023SunDaySha Tin27 Sep 2023WedNightHappy Valley1 Oct 2023SunDaySha Tin4 Oct 2023WedNightHappy Valley8 Oct  2023SunDaySha Tin11 Oct 2023WedNightHappy Valley15 Oct 2023SunDaySha Tin18 Oct 2023WedNightHappy Valley22 Oct 2023SunDaySha Tin25 Oct 2023WedNightSha Tin29 Oct 2023SunDayHappy Valley1 Nov 2023WedNightHappy Valley5 Nov 2023SunDaySha Tin8 Nov 2023WedNightHappy Valley11 Nov 2023SatDaySha Tin15 Nov 2023WedNightHappy Valley19 Nov 2023SunDaySha Tin22 Nov 2023WedNightHappy Valley26 Nov 2023SunDaySha Tin29 Nov 2023WedNightHappy Valley3 Dec 2023SunDaySha Tin6 Dec 2023WedNightHappy ValleyLongines International Jockeys Championship10 Dec 2023SunDaySha TinLongines HKIR13 Dec 2023WedNightHappy Valley17 Dec 2023SunDaySha Tin20 Dec 2023WedNightHappy Valley23 Dec 2023SatDaySha Tin27 Dec 2023WedNightHappy Valley1 Jan 2024MonDaySha Tin4 Jan 2024ThurNightHappy Valley7 Jan 2024SunDaySha Tin10 Jan 2024WedNightHappy Valley13 Jan 2024SatDaySha Tin17 Jan 2024WedNightHappy Valley21 Jan 2024SunDaySha TinStewards’ Cup24 Jan 2024WedNightSha Tin28 Jan 2024SunDaySha TinCentenary Sprint Cup31 Jan2024WedNightHappy Valley4 Feb2024SunDaySha TinHong Kong Classic Mile7 Feb 2024WedNightHappy Valley12 Feb 2024MonDaySha Tin15 Feb 2024ThurNightHappy Valley18 Feb 2024SunDaySha Tin21 Feb 2024WedNightHappy Valley25 Feb 2024SunDaySha TinHong Kong Gold Cup28 Feb 2024WedNightHappy Valley3 Mar 2024SunDaySha TinHong Kong Classic Cup6 Mar 2024WedNightHappy Valley10 Mar 2024SunDaySha TinQueen’s Silver Jubilee Cup13 Mar 2024WedNightHappy Valley16 Mar 2024SatDaySha Tin20 Mar 2024WedNightHappy Valley24 Mar 2024SunDaySha TinBMW HK Derby27 Mar 2024WedNightSha Tin31 Mar 2024SunDaySha Tin3 Apr 2024WedNightHappy Valley7 Apr 2024SunDaySha Tin10 Apr 2024WedNightHappy Valley14 Apr 2024SaunDaySha Tin17 Apr 2024WedNightHappy Valley20 Apr 2024SatDaySha Tin24 Apr 2024WedNightHappy Valley28 Apr 2024SunDaySha TinFWD Champions Day1 May 2024WedNightHappy Valley5 May 2024SunDaySha Tin8 May 2024WedNightHappy Valley11 May 2024SatDaySha Tin15 May 2024WedNightHappy Valley19 May 2024SunDaySha Tin22 May 2024WedNightHappy Valley26 May 2024SunDaySha TinStandard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup29 May 2024WedNightSha Tin2 Jun 2024SunDaySha Tin5 Jun 2024WedNightHappy Valley8 Jun 2024SatDaySha Tin12 Jun 2024WedNightHappy Valley16 Jun 2024SunDaySha Tin23 Jun2024SunDaySha Tin26 Jun2024WedNightHappy Valley1 Jul2024MonDaySha Tin4 Jul 2024ThurNightHappy Valley7 Jul 2024SunDaySha Tin10 Jul 2024WedNightHappy Valley14 Jul2024SunDaySha TinSha Tin Key MeetingsLongines HKIR (December)The richest meeting of the year in Hong Kong is the Longines Hong Kong International Races run in mid-December on a Sunday afternoon.Known as the “world turf championships” the meeting attracts the best horses from around the globe chasing prestige and prize money with the running of four Group 1 races which include: Longines Hong Kong Cup, Longines Hong Kong Mile, Longines Hong Kong Sprint, and the Longines Hong Kong Vase.The Longines Hong Kong Cup was first run in 1988 with the Longines Hong Kong Mile introduced in 1991, the Longines Hong Kong Vase in 1994 and finally the Longines Hong Kong Sprint was first run in 1999.Stewards’ Cup / Centenary Sprint Cup Day (January)These are the first meetings of the new year which feature Group 1 racing at Sha Tin. Over two different meetings there are two Group 1 races in the and Stewards’ Cup (1600m) andCentenary Sprint (1200m).Hong Kong Classic Mile Day (February)The other feature race on the program is the Hong Kong Classic Mile for four-year-old’s, which is the first leg of the 4YO Series.Chinese New Year (February)This meeting is a huge celebration which produces an electric atmosphere for racegoers. While there is no Group racing action on the program it has become an annual tradition.Hong Kong Gold Cup Day (February)This meeting features the Group 1 Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) which is the second leg of the Triple Crown, first run in 1979.Hong Kong Classic Cup Day (March)The Hong Kong Classic Cup is another great race on the program run a set weights with the top three runners gaining a start in the prestigious Hong Kong Derby. It is the second leg of the 4YO series.Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup Day (March)The Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup is a set weights race over 1400 metres and is the second leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series.BMW Hong KongDerbyDay (March)The Hong Kong Derby (2000m) for 4YOs is not a Group 1 race but is the last of the three premier races which make up the 4YO series (HK Classic Mile, HK Classic Cup, BMW HK Derby). The prestigious Hong Kong Derby was first raced in 1873 and is now worth $24 million HK dollars.FWD Champions Day (April)Champions Day is one of the great days on the racing calendar at Sha Tin. It features three Group 1 races and is the only race day behind HKIR which boasts so many Group 1 races.The Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize, famously won by Chautauqua in 2016, is the final leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series run over 1200 metres. The other two Group 1 races in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the Champions Mile.Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup Day (May)The Standard Charted Champions & Chater Cup is the sole Group 1 race on the program. It is the final leg of the Triple Crown. There is a HK $5,000,000 bonus to the owner of any horse who wins all three races of the Triple Crown. River Verdon remains the only horse to do so in 1994.The Group 3 Sha Tin Vase is the supporting race on the program.Sha Tin Feature Races & Prize MoneyRaceTrackClassPrizemoney (HK)DistanceWhenAgeLongines Hong Kong CupSha TinGroup 1$36,000,0002000mDec 10, 20233yo+Longines Hong Kong MileSha TinGroup 1$32,000,0001600mDec 10, 20233yo+Longines Hong Kong SprintSha TinGroup 1$26,000,0001200mDec 10, 20233yo+Longines Hong Kong VaseSha TinGroup 1$24,000,0002400mDec 10, 20233yo+Stewards’ CupSha TinGroup 1$12,000,0001600mJan 21, 20243yo+Centenary Sprint CupSha TinGroup 1$12,000,0001200mJan 28, 20243yo+Hong Kong Classic MileSha Tin-$12,000,0001600mFeb 4, 20244yoHong Kong Gold CupSha TinGroup 1$12,000,0002000mFeb 25, 20243yo+Hong Kong Classic CupSha Tin-$12,000,0001800mMar 3, 20244yoQueen’s Silver Jubilee CupSha TinGroup 1$13,000,0001400mMar 10, 20243yo+BMW Hong Kong DerbySha Tin-$24,000,0002000mMar 24, 20244yoFWD Queen Elizabeth II CupSha TinGroup 1$25,000,0002000mApr 28, 20243yo+FWD Champion’s MileSha TinGroup 1$20,000,0001600mApr 28, 20243yo+Chairman’s Sprint PrizeSha TinGroup 1$20,000,0001200mApr 28, 20243yo+Standard Chartered Champions & Chater CupSha TinGroup 1$12,000,0002400mMay 26, 20243yo+Note: Prize money in Hong Kong dollars as of July, 2023Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) in DecemberThe Longines Hong Kong Cup is the richest race on the calendar. It is run under weight-for-age conditions for middle-distance horses. First run in 1988 over 1800 metres it was known as the Hong Kong Invitation Cup restricted to local gallopers. It later became the Hong Kong International Cup and Australian and New Zealand runners followed. It was renamed in 1999 to the Hong Kong Cup and elevated to Group 1 status.Today it is run over 2000 metres on Hong Kong International Race Day (HKIR) in mid-December attracting the best horses from all over the world. England-trained galloper Snow Fairy is the most decorated galloper to win the race claiming six Group 1 races in four countries (Hong Kong, Japan, Ireland, and England).Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) in DecemberThe Longines Hong Kong Mile is a weight-for-age race first run in 1991 as the Hong Kong International Bowl over 1400 metres. It was changed to the Hong Kong Mile and distance of 1600 metres in 1999 and upgraded to Group 1 status in 2000. It is run in mid-December and one of four Group 1 races on HKIR.Monopolize (1995,1996) and Catalan Opening (1997) trained by Bart Cummings gave Australia early success in the race.Dual Cox Plate champion mare Sunline took out the 2000 edition holding off local star Fairy King Prawn in an epic finish.Hong Kong-based Australian trainer, John Moore, has won the race a record four times and combined with Aussie, Zac Purton, to win the race in 2018 with Beauty Generation.Local star and 2020 Hong Kong Most Popular Horse of the Year, Golden Sixty, made it 14 wins from 15 starts taking out the 2020 edition of the race.Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) in DecemberThe Longines Hong Kong Vase is a weight-for-age race which was first run in 1994 at Sha Tin. It has always been run over 2400 metres and was upgraded to Group 1 status in 2000. French-trained galloper Dunaden became the first horse to win the Melbourne Cup (2011) and go on and win the Longines Hong Kong Vase.Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) in DecemberThe Longines Hong Kong Sprint was first run in 1999 over 1000 metres. Local champion and Hong Kong Horse of the Year in 2000 and 2001, Fairy King Prawn won the first edition. It was raised to Group 1 status in 2002 and extended to 1200 metres in 2006. It is the final leg of the Global Sprint Challenge.Aussie sprinter Falvelon won the race in 2000 and 2001 down the straight over 1000 metres with Damian Oliver in the saddle for Queensland trainer Danny Bougoure.Plenty of big-name sprinters have won over the years including Silent Witness (2003, 2004) and Sacred Kingdon (2007, 2009).Hong Kong Derby (2000m) in MarchThe Hong Kong Derby is one of the most prestigious and sought-after races on the calendar. First run in 1873, before the Hong Kong Jockey Club was established, it is a non-International graded race for four-year-olds under set weight conditions.In 1981 it was changed from three-year-old gallopers to be restricted to four-year-old horses. In 2000 the distance was reduced from 2400 metres down to 2000 metres.Aussie Zac Purton won the 2024 instalment on Massive Sovereign.Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) in AprilThe Queen Elizabeth II Cup was first run in 1975 over 2200 metres at Happy Valley. The first running at Sha Tin was in 1979 and it was not until 1995 that it was elevated to Group 1 class. John Moore is the most successful trainer claiming the race on five occasions.Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) in AprilThe Champions Mile was first run in 2001 and is the only Group 1 race in Hong Kong that was introduced this century. It was given Group 1 status in 2007.Aussie jockey Brett Prebble has won the race a record three times.In 2023, Golden Sixty won the race for a third straight year, becoming the first horse to achieve this feat.Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) in AprilThe weight-for-age race was first run in 1979 as the Hong Kong Sprint Championship.It was given Group 1 status in 2016 when it was taken out by star Aussie-trained sprinter Chautauqua in a breath-taking finishing burst coming from 12 lengths last on the turn.Sha Tin Race Distances and Barrier Information1000 metres(standard time – Group race 55.95): Barriers are in a chute with horses having a straight run down the home straight to the winning post.1200 metres(standard time – Group race 1.08.40): Horses have a short run into the first bend which they navigate before coming to the home turn and run down the straight to the winning post. There are three Group 1 races run over this distance which include: Longines Hong Kong Sprint, Chairman’s Sprint Prize and Centenary Sprint Cup.1400 metres(standard time – Group race 1.21.40): Horses have a straight run into the first bend in which jockeys have time to settle in a position as they come around the bend to the home turn and straight run of 430 metres to the winning post. There is one Group 1 race run over this distance in February which is the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup.1600 metres(standard time – Group race 1.33.50): Barriers are in a chute on the back straight with a generous run into the first bend allowing jockeys to find a position. They navigate the turn to the home bend and run down the straight to the winning post. This distance boasts three Group 1 races which include: Longines Hong Kong Mile, FWD Champions Mile and the Stewards’ Cup.1800 metres(standard time – Group race 1.46.05): Horses start from a chute in the back straight with a long run into the first bend allowing jockeys plenty of time to find a position. They navigate the bend to the home straight with a 430 metres run to the winning post.2000 metres(standard time – Group race 2.00.55): The barriers are located just before the winning post with horses completing just over a full lap of the oval-shaped circuit. They have a short run into the first turn with a good barrier advantage. There are two Group 1 races over this distance which include: the Longines Hong Kong Cup, Hong Kong Gold Cup, and the Queen Elizabeth II Cup.2200 metres(standard time – Group race n/a): Barriers are located close to the top of the straight as runners complete over a full lap of the circuit.2400 metres(standard time – Group race 2.26.20): Barriers are located at the top of the straight with a long run of over 430 metres down the straight before navigating the first bend and completing a lap of the course. There are two Group 1 races run over this trip which are the Longines Hong Kong Vase and the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup.* Note: There is a maximum of 14 runners in any race.Sha Tin TipsThe Hong Kong Jockey Club produce a variety of popular betting shows that feature tips for Sha Tin.Racing To Win: Mark McNamara, Tom Wood, Andrew Le Jeune and Paul Lally give a comprehensive preview which includes analysis, interviews, and tips for Sha Tin. This is available to watch onwww.hkjc.comand the Sky Racing Active App.The Winning Factor: Respected form analyst Alan Aitken takes an in-depth look at two key upcoming races in Hong Kong which include tips for Sha Tin and is available two days before race day. This is available to watch onwww.hkjc.comor on the jockey club's excellent YouTube channel.Puntersalso providehorse racing tipswhere you can sometimes find Hong Kong tips, but the best way of nailing HK winners is to keep your eye on Punters the day before a Hong Kong meeting, where our resident Hong Kong expert Adam Cusworth delivers a full preview like this one for Happy ValleyHERE.How to Watch Live Racing from Sha TinThere are plenty of ways punters can tune in to catch all the action from Sha Tin.Punters.com.aualso has a live stream on their desktop and mobile platforms that begins 30mins before the start of the first race.Sky Racing broadcast the action across their TV network on Sky Racing 1 (Foxtel ch 526), Sky Racing 2 (Foxtel ch 527) and Sky Thoroughbred Central (Foxtel ch 528) as well as the radio network Sky Sports Radio and RadioTAB. The Sky Racing Active App provides an enhanced experience which is also available to be cast to the big screen.On twitter @HKJC_Racing provides race replays for Sha Tin as well aswww.hkjc.com.Sha Tin Q&AsWhen does racing at Sha Tin start?The first meeting of the new racing season (2023/24) in Hong Kong is at Sha Tin on Sunday September 10, 2023.How many meetings are at Sha Tin?There are 48 meetings at Sha Tin in the 2023/24 season.How long does the racing season last at Sha Tin?The racing season in Hong Kong runs from September to July each year. It starts and finishes with a meeting at Sha Tin.What days do they race at Sha Tin?Racing at Sha Tin is predominantly on Sunday afternoon with aprox 33 of the 48 meetings in the 2023/24 season on Sundays. They have eight Saturday afternoon meetings and some public holidays.How many Group 1 races are run at Sha Tin?There are 12 Group 1 races run at Sha Tin each season.What is the richest race run at Sha Tin?The richest race at Sha Tin is the Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m) worth HK$36 million run in mid-December on HKIR.What is the biggest day of racing at Sha Tin?The Longines HKIR (Hong Kong International Races) is on December 10, 2023 which features four Group 1 races worth a combined HK$118 million.

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