Horse racing is one of the oldest yet most popular spectator sports in Hong Kong. Watching live races and immersing yourself in the excitement at the racecourse is surely a quintessential experience for tourists and locals alike.
Hong Kong has over 150 years of horse racing history. The Happy Valley Racecourse (oldest racecourse in Hong Kong) was built in 1845, just four years after the British first landed in the colony. At first, horse racing was exclusive to the social elites, but as years progressed it became increasingly popular with the local Chinese community. Nowadays, jockeys from around the world periodically gather in Hong Kong to compete in the major racing events.
Although the sport is popular around the world, nowhere is it followed as passionately as in Hong Kong. Racecourses are always packed, boasting an electrifying and carnival-like atmosphere that is rarely replicated in other countries. Here races are held twice a week for over ten months of the year. Locals regularly pore over tipster rundowns to find their best bets. People from all walks of life participate in or are influenced by the horse racing activities in some way.
Indeed, horse racing is one of the few remnants of Hong Kong’s past era that remains deeply ingrained in local culture. It is held in high esteem that even former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping famously said, "horse racing will continue and night clubs will stay open", when he tried to relieve citizens' concerns about the return of sovereignty to China in 1997.
In recent decades, equine sports in Hong Kong have expanded to a new level beyond horse racing alone. In 2008, Hong Kong successfully hosted the equestrian competitions for the Beijing Olympics. Today, Hong Kong has earned its fame as an Equine Capital that is well-recognised internationally. You can find a statue commemorating this status and the legacy of horse racing at GZ.
Logging Requirement
Post a photo of you or something that can identify you as a geocacher, with the horse statues at the listed coordinate (outside the racecourse). Logs without the required photo will be deleted.
You are welcome to share more about your story or experience at the racecourse with additional photos in the log as well (optional).
Useful Information
If you wish to watch horse races, please note the following:
- Races at the Happy Valley racecourse are generally held ONLY on Wednesday evenings (around 7pm-11pm) during racing season (September to July). Other races are also held at the Shatin racecourse on Sunday afternoons.
- ONLY persons ≥18 years old can legally enter the racecourse. Admission fee for the public enclosure is HKD10. Tourists who wish to visit the members’ enclosure can also pay HKD130 for a tourist badge.
- Please consult the official website for the most updated information and more details.
If you want to take a peek of the racecourse without admission:
- The infield (center area of the racecourse) is freely accessible to the public on non-race days. Also known as the Happy Valley Recreational Ground, it has a jogging track, football pitches and small viewing platform. Opens 7am-11pm daily but closed during racing events.
- The Hong Kong Racing Museum is located on the 2/F of the Happy Valley stand and freely accessible to public. Opens 12pm-7pm daily, 12pm-9pm on race days.
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.