The Hong Kong Jockey Club has reported a return to growth for the local racing industry with total racing wagering turnover in the 2024/25 Hong Kong season rising 3.0% to HK$138.85 billion (US$17.7 billion). This compares to a 4.5% decline in racing wagering turnover a year earlier.
According to Information from HKJC, the growth in racing turnover was driven primarily by optimized jackpot offerings, improved field sizes, increased mainland and international sports tourism and the continued success of globalizing Hong Kong racing via commingling combined with its international simulcast under World Pool Strategy.
HKJC hosted 88 race meetings over the course of the season, including seven summer series fixtures, comprising 847 Hong Kong races and 393 overseas simulcast races, it explained.
The figures include a 10.1% year-on-year increase in commingling turnover to a record HK$31.76 billion (US$4.05 billion).
Turnover on simulcasting – including World Pool commingling – for the season was up 2.3% to HK$13.11 billion (US$1.67 billion), aided by a 7% increase in simulcast races to 393.
Race attendance was also strong, reaching more than 1.7 million including 110% increase in mainland visitor attendees to 195,786.
HKJC said that Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee’s recognition of horse racing tourism in his Policy Address created new momentum for the club to take racing tourism to the next level, as did the incorporation of racing tourism into the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0 and the establishment of a strategic partnership between the Club and China Travel Service (Holdings) Hong Kong Limited to strengthen the promotion of tourism within the Greater Bay Area, including racecourse tourism.
“It’s been an amazing season, with outstanding performances by top horses that have truly captured the imagination of fans not just in Hong Kong but around the world,” said HKJC CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.
“Since the Policy Address of HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee, we have been able to attract even more Mainland and overseas tourists, who have come to our racecourses in record numbers to experience our city’s signature sport for themselves. These achievements strengthen the position of Hong Kong racing as a world-class sport and entertainment experience. They have also made an important contribution to Hong Kong tourism as well as underlining Hong Kong’s vital role as a centre for East-West exchange.”
HKJC said it issued record total prize money of HK$1.74 billion (US$222 million) for the season and would look to further increase the prize money offered on its feature Group 1 races during flagship race days the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races and FWD Champions Day in the 2025/26 season.
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