The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) recorded the highest day of betting turnover since 1997 on Tuesday, with punters celebrating Chinese New Year by wagering HK$2.06 billion (US$263 million) at Sha Tin.
Not since 15 June 1997, when the last HKJC race meeting before the territory’s handover back to China generated turnover of HK$2.54 billion (US$324 million), has there been such activity with Tuesday’s tally comfortable exceeding the HK$1.86 billion (US$238 million) bet last year.
Attendance of 84,394 was also the highest attendance since the implementation of COVID restrictions in early 2020.
According to HKJC CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the result included a 9.4% increase in turnover from punters in Hong Kong, while international turnover also grew year-on-year.
“We are absolutely delighted with today’s race meeting,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said.
“The atmosphere was really fantastic and it brought back what we always felt – that Lunar New Year is a very special race meeting.
“We could not have dreamed of such a result, so we are extremely satisfied.”