HKJC news

[tunginbum]

Licensing Committee's decisions
16 April 2002
The following is a summary of decisions made at the Licensing Committee Meeting held 16 April 2002:-
The Committee AGREED TO GRANT licences to the following currently licensed Trainers for the 2002/2003 season, subject to a satisfactory medical examination:-
I Allan K W Lui
P Chapple-Hyam K L Man
A S Cruz A Millard
D Cruz J Moore
L Fownes B K Ng
D Hayes T K Ng
D Hill D Oughton
L Ho J Size
P C Kan S T Wong
G Lane Y O Wong
T W Leung P F Yiu
K C Lo
The Committee DEFERRED a decision on the application for an Assistant Trainer’s Licence for the 2002/03 season by Raymond K L Tsui.
The Committee APPROVED that the following Trainers may retain a jockey for the 2002/2003 season:-
A S Cruz
J Moore
The Committee NOTED Trainer Brian P C Kan had withdrawn his application for permission to retain a jockey for the 2002/03 season.
The Committee NOTED permission has been given for Club Jockey Weichong Marwing to ride at the Turfontein race meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday 27 April 2002. In South Africa this race meeting is referred to as “Champions Day” and incorporates the running of 4 Group 1 races, including the South African Derby, and 4 Group 2 races.
Jockey Marwing will depart Hong Kong after the Happy Valley race meeting on Wednesday, 24 April 2002 and return to Hong Kong on Sunday 28 April 2002. During this period Jockey Marwing will miss the Sha Tin race meeting to be held Saturday, 27 April 2002.

[Monty Burns]

John Moore wading in for his 19th stable jockey - wonder how long this one will last? And who might it be? There was talk about Anton Marcus, but he gets suspended every fortnight. Cahill and Seamer also mentioned.

[masun]

Perhaps the JC should allow Moore to retain both Anton Marcus and Simon Yim (if he still gets his licence next year!) so that they can take turns getting suspended.

[hobbes]

Thursday September 2 1999
Trainers face performance test
ROBIN PARKE
Hong Kong trainers who do not maintain a stable strength of 20 sound horses and win 12 races a season face non-renewal of their licences.
Anticipated performance guidelines were set out to Hong Kong's 26 licensed trainers at a pre-season briefing yesterday. It is the first time in the sport's professional history that trainers have been set strict standards to meet.
Trainers must also have minimum prizemoney earnings of $6 million per season and the percentage of winners to runners is set at a minimum of five per cent.
Had these guidelines been in place last season, five trainers would have failed to meet them in relation to the number of winners. One of them, Lam Hung-fie, retired at the end of the season.
The axe will not fall immediately. A trainer will first be asked to discuss reasons for the decline in performance with the Licensing Committee and, if there is no improvement in the following season, there will be a further review.
A trainer may still get one final chance but if he does not show improvement in the next season, his trainer's licence will be revoked - unless he produces sufficient cause as to why that should not happen. A major consideration - in fact, top of the list - is integrity.
The meeting was addressed by chief executive Lawrence Wong, director of racing Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, and new chief stipendiary steward John Schreck.
it seems P. Chapple-Hyam has had his license renewed again following failure to meet the above guidelines for the last 3 seasons.
what is the use of the JC having such guidelines if they are then going to ignore them ??

[shapke]

In the case of Chapple-Hyam, I believe the HKJC has taken a softer view as he will not have completed 3 seasons until midway through the next one. He will be on his last throw of the dice when the 2002-3 season opens.
I will also be surprised, asssuming current management remains in place, if the rules on performance are not applied stringently to others now and all in the future.
________
LindaCarter (http://camslivesexy.com/cam/LindaCarter)

[SlimChance]

PCH must be in an awful situation. I think he and all others would be surprised if he makes the grade next season. Must be a struggle to make any money with his performance so why doesnt he leave now rather than be forced to leave next year?
Guess nothing availble for him anywhere that would come close to even a low ranking HK trainer!!
JC should enforce the rules in this case (and with several other conistently poor trainers) as HK racing has the opportunity to be the among the best in the world and im sure his position could be easily filled by someone with a more suitable training style.

[shaved]

The Hong Kong Jockey Club has decided to simulcast and conduct betting on both
Singapore Airlines International Cup and Singapore Airlines Krisflyer Sprint. Win,
Place and Quinella pools will, as usual, be in operation and provided there are no
more than 14 starters in each race, Double, Tierce, Trio and Quinella Place pools will
also be available.

[shaved]

In Hong Kong news, the Jockey Club is again considering the concept of using barrier trials to qualify horses for class four and griffin races.
"We would like to look at ways to make the griffin races in particular more competitive," said Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the Club's director of racing. "We have a situation where, through using a trainer's preferences, horses which are beaten a long way in trials can still gain a start in griffin races ahead of the horses which have beaten them. Obviously, there has to be plenty of discussion and research on how we can best do this, but it may be that we apply some time stipulations whereby horses which do not measure up to a certain time standard in trials might be refused preference to run."
The concept of using trials as qualifying "races" for class four events was floated late last season but not implemented.
Engelbrecht-Bresges said the Club would be "very sensible" about the speed required, with perhaps two seconds outside an established average time, adjusted for track conditions, being the benchmark.

[simple simon]

Big licensing committee meeting coming up next week and sure hope they treat me nicely.

[Shallow Hal]

You'd make a good riding boy.
And I read today that Wendyll has applied for a freelance ticket next season. Don't you just love some people's elephantine optimism!

[jack]

See the papers saying no hope of Fradd or Egan getting another run here next season.
And Yim will be lucky to get another go.
K H Ting will be in bother when Brian Kan retires.

[Homer J.]

The Hong Kong Jockey Club is amending the handicapping of Griffin race winners and allocating a minimum rating to the winners of such races.
The victory by Speedy Express (AUS) (B365) in Mount Parker Plate, Race 564, last Sunday, May 5,
best illustrates the future anomalies which the Jockey Club wishes to prevent.
Speedy Express was subsequently allocated a rating of 50 based on his performance in the race. But, under the existing system, the arbitrary rating given to an unraced horse is 57 for Northern
Hemisphere-bred animals and 52 for those bred in the Southern Hemipshere. Placed maiden Griffins,
meanwhile, receive a maximum initial rating no higher than 60.
This rating allocated to Speedy Express for his win was lower than the arbitrary rating for an unraced Griffin from the same hemisphere.
It is therefore in the best interest of Hong Kong racing to rationalise the handicapping of Griffins on winning with a view to removing this perceived anomaly. A minimum initial rating allocated to a Griffin winner of 60 (NH) and 55 (SH) - which is 3 lbs above the respective arbitrary rating - is to be
introduced with immediate effect and apply to all Griffin winners this season.
"We recognise that with the low figure allocated to Speedy Express, this could cause some
confusion," Winfried Englebrecht-Bresges, the Jockey Club's Executive Director of Racing said.
"While the Handicapping Department is aware of this problem, until now we have not established a
minimum rating system. To avoid unnecessary confusion, it has been recommended to the Racing
Committee that with immediate effect, we implement a minimum initial rating for a winner in a
griffins race," he added.

[hobbes]

Turnover crisis hits Jockey Club By Ken Martinus
THE Jockey Club is heading for its lowest betting turnover in seven years though the situation could improve if legislators pass the Gaming Ordinance Amendment bill on May 22.
After 66 meetings of the current season, total turnover stands at HK$66.6 billion. With 12 meetings remaining, conservative estimates place total turnover about HK$79.7 billion, or about 2.25 per cent lower than last year's figure of HK$81.5 billion.
Government revenue is also expected to fall by about 2.25 per cent to HK$10.7 billion if the slide goes on.
The last time turnover reached similar levels was in 1996 when it totalled HK$80.6 billion after just 71 race meetings. It went on to hit an all-time high of HK$92.3 billion the following season, which was also the last year of colonial rule. Since then, it has been a steady slide downwards.
Jockey Club officials have constantly warned that contributions to the government and the community this year could be adversely affected if action were not taken to stem the outflow of gaming dollars into Internet and offshore betting syndicates.
Chief executive Lawrence Wong has also urged the government to change the present system of a tax on bets to one on surplus so that the club can better compete with overseas betting operations that do not have to pay tax and are able to offer higher dividends..
After months of debate, it now appears that the Legislative Council is now ready to approve a bill on May 22 that will make it illegal for Hong Kong residents to place bets on the Internet or through telephone calls to betting syndicates operating overseas. The government is also expected to announce its decision on football betting before the end of the month. There are fears that with the start of the football World Cup in Japan and South Korea only weeks away, the government action may come too late.
Several offshore syndicates have already started picking up bets on the football bonanza and a CNN news report last week suggested that betting in Asia alone could amount to about HK$20 billion or more.
Director of Racing Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said on Sunday that while a Gaming Ordinance would be welcome, its impact on racing turnover at this stage of the season would be small.
``The bigger problem will be football betting and though the new laws may make it harder for people to bet online, there is the danger that illegal bookmakers may cash in on the upcoming World Cup.''
Engelbrecht-Bresges said legalisation of football betting could provide the government with extra revenue but racing would require a boost such as the scrapping of the betting tax.
7 May 2002 / 02:12 AM

[hobbes]

SCMP > letters to editor by Alan F. S. Li; Chairman; The Hong Kong Jockey Club.
heading Illegal gambling is bringing serious social problems.
cannot find on SCMP web site but it regurgitates the usual propoganda on the subject.
i suggest the gov't addiction to the revenue it accrues thru its greed causes far more social problems than illegal gambling.
obviously the gov't and the JC are far less concerned with social problems arising from illegal gambling than they are with the revenue lost.
lower the taxes on the gambling activity they choose to license and there would be far less illegal gambling.

[Homer J.]

LICENSING COMMITTEE'S DECISIONS
The following is a summary of decisions made at the Licensing Committee Meeting
held 9 May 2002:-
1.The Committee:-
1.1 GRANTED, subject to a satisfactory medical examination, Freelance
Jockeys' Licences to the following currently licensed Freelance riders for the
2002/2003 Season:-
Howard Y T Cheng
Eddy W M Lai
Jimmy K H Ting
Simon H K Yim
Alex K S Yu
1.2 DEFERRED a decision regarding the application for a Freelance Jockey's
Licence for the 2002/2003 season from Henry K C Tsang. Jockey Tsang
will be asked to "show cause" at 4pm on Monday, 17 June 2002 why he
should be granted a Freelance Jockey's Licence for the 2002/2003 season.
2.The Committee GRANTED, subject to a satisfactory medical examination,
Apprentice Jockeys' Licences to the following currently licensed Apprentices for
the 2002/2003 Season:-
Cliff K K Lai
Way M W Leung
Vincent S K Sit
3.The Committee:-
3.1 APPROVED Trainer A S Cruz's application to retain Felix Coetzee as his
stable jockey for the 2002/2003 season, and GRANTED a Jockey's Licence
to Felix Coetzee for the 2002/2003 season, subject to a satisfactory medical
examination.
3.2 GRANTED Trainer John Moore an extension, up to 31 May 2002, to
continue negotiations with possible retained riders.
4.The Committee:-
4.1 APPROVED, subject to a satisfactory medical examination and an
undertaking to arrive in Hong Kong to begin riding trackwork by 18 August
2002, the following appointments as Club Jockeys for the commencement of
the 2002/2003 Season:-
Full Season Club
Licences Part Season
1.7.02-23.3.03 Part Season
1.7.02-15.12.02
(Full season) Dwayne Dunn; Douglas Whyte; Shane Dye; Gerald Mosse; Weichong Marwing.
(Part Season to March 23) Eric Legrix; Anton Marcus.
(Part season up to December 15) Michael Cahill; Oscar Chavez; Eric Saint-Martin; Glyn Schofield; Craig Williams.
> For profiles of Oscar Chavez and Glyn Schofield, see the attached sheet.
4.2 DEFERRED a decision regarding the application for a Club Jockey's
Licence for the 2002/2003 season from Robert Fradd.
4.3 DECIDED, in view of Jockey Saint-Martin's disciplinary record, overall
attitude, and demeanor, should he apply for an extension of his licence he
will be required to "show cause" why such an extension ought be granted.
5.The Committee AGREED to create a vacancy for the position of Assistant
Trainer. This position will be advertised and interviews conducted before the
next Committee meeting.
Jamie Stier
Stipendiary Steward
and Secretary, Licensing Committee
Profile - Jockey Oscar Chavez and Jockey Glyn Schofield
Panamanian born Jockey Oscar Chavez, 27, was champion apprentice of his home
country in 1991. Since graduating as a jockey Oscar Chavez has ridden with success
in America, Singapore, Malaysia and India. The most notable achievements among
his 650 career wins would include winning the Singapore and Malaysian Jockeys
Championship in 1996 and finishing runner up on three other occasions (1999, 2000,
2001). While riding in Singapore and Malaysia he has won 1994 Singapore Derby,
1994 Lion City Cup, 1998 Sultan Gold Vase, 2000 Silver Cup. In recent times
Jockey Chavez has been doing the bulk of his riding for leading Singaporian trainer
Malcolm Thwaites. When riding in New York, for a short period in 2000 he rode 15
winners from 58 rides. Jockey Chavez is able to ride at 113 lbs.
South African Jockey Glyn Schofield, 35, commenced race riding as an apprentice in
1984. He was twice runner up Champion Apprentice of South Africa. He has
ridden over 700 winners from 7560 race rides with winners being ridden in South
Africa, Australia, Singapore and Mauritius. Among the major races won by Jockey
Schofield are the South African Derby (Group 1), South African Colts Guineas
(Group 1), South African Fillies Guineas (Group 1), Mauritius Gold Cup and
Singapore Bukit Timah Trophy. Jockey Schofield is able to ride at 114 lbs.
* * *
[ May 09, 2002: Message edited by: Homer J. ]

[corkey boy]

Saint-Martin will be over the moon at the way the worded that.

[imaufo]

This guy sounds alright.
Panamanian born Jockey Oscar Chavez, 27, was champion apprentice of his home
country in 1991. Since graduating as a jockey Oscar Chavez has ridden with success
in America, Singapore, Malaysia and India. The most notable achievements among
his 650 career wins would include winning the Singapore and Malaysian Jockeys
Championship in 1996 and finishing runner up on three other occasions (1999, 2000,
2001). While riding in Singapore and Malaysia he has won 1994 Singapore Derby,
1994 Lion City Cup, 1998 Sultan Gold Vase, 2000 Silver Cup. In recent times
Jockey Chavez has been doing the bulk of his riding for leading Singaporian trainer
Malcolm Thwaites. When riding in New York, for a short period in 2000 he rode 15
winners from 58 rides. Jockey Chavez is able to ride at 113 lbs.

[rubbintug]

Poor Wendyll.......

[shaved]

Yes the gravy train has finally pulled into the station for Wendyll, who basically had a golden ride on tracks where he didn't quite belong.
HK punters will not miss him. And it's a miracle they let Simon Yim back in. He's not good enough. Other jocks fear his recklessness.
And Alex Yu boasts the mighty tally of 3 winners this season and is another passenger. But I guess they've got to keep some locals in the game.

[masun]

A racing paper has reported that J Moore may retain French jockey Soumillon who is currently riding in Macau as his stable jockey next season.

[shapke]

Soumillon finished in Macau about 2 months ago but would be a worthy HK rider. However, it would be a most unlikely engagement - having just commenced as the Aga Khan's rider, Soumillon is far more likely to be in HK December-March next season. The Aga Khan wouldn't allow him to take a full season
________
Infants nexium (http://www.classactionsettlements.org/lawsuit/nexium/)

[Smithers]

SCMP May 22
The Hong Kong Jockey Club has a gathering storm on the horizon over the training and track information provided to the public after finding eight more bleeders using full training facilities in contravention of the rules.
The John Moore-trained Lombard has been scratched from race five at Happy Valley tonight after what appears to have been a breach of the post-bleeding rules, but seven more are being investigated, including four from leading trainer John Size's yard.
An inquiry will be held before racing this evening regarding Lombard. The sprinter was outed after bleeding on January 16 but has been confirmed by Moore as having worked on the small all-weather track on March 9, 11 and 12 when he was not entitled to use the training tracks until March 16.
A further inquiry will be held tomorrow into seven other horses which may have illegally used the training facilities after bleeding. The horses involved are the Size-trained Decouvert, Splendid Bo Bo, My Favourite and Toymark, Eddie Lo's Telecom Twin, the Peter Ho-trained Lucky Six and Andy Leung Ting-wah's Just Win.
On Sunday, trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fie was fined $30,000 for breaching the restrictions on training facilities available for Lion Rock, who incurred a three-month bleeding ban on February 14. Lion Rock was yesterday barred until July 19 and the stewards also laid down restrictions permitting him to use only the horse walkers, lunging ring and both trotting rings until June 19.
Subsequently, the Jockey Club undertook a review of work patterns of other horses this season returning from bleeding attacks and found further instances where Stewards Instruction 8 may have been breached. However, one source told the South China Morning Post that the investigation had discovered instances where incorrect information on horses had been reported by the Club. In one instance, a horse was reported to be swimming and training at Sha Tin but was, in fact, at the Beas River spelling centre.
"All I would like to say at this stage, considering that we have inquiries pending, is that the Club does currently rely on information from the trainers and from certain commercial services," Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the Club's director of racing, said yesterday. "In the future, and at considerable expense, we will be employing the unique STRIDE monitoring system for trackwork and we are certain that the information recorded and reported will be highly accurate. The kind of accuracy we will get from this system is what we want for our customers and justifies the investment we are making."
John Moore was yesterday granted permission to withdraw his application for a stable rider next season. Moore had been granted an extension until May 31 to continue negotiations with possible riders, but has now advised the Licensing Committee it was his intention to retain Anton Marcus had he received only a three-month Club licence. The South African jockey was granted a six-month contract, causing Moore to cease further negotiations.

[Horny Harry]

Trainer John Size is one of several trainers who the stewards will inquire into, regarding the training of horses that have bled.
Last Sunday stewards withdrew LION ROCK at Sha Tin, and subsequent to this, Stewards reviewed the work pattern of horses which have suffered a bleeding attack during the current racing season and are presently in work.
Stewards considered the future entries of LION ROCK and have decided that he will be stood down from racing until 19 July 2002. During the first month of this period, LION ROCK will be restricted to using the horse walkers, the lungeing ring and both trotting rings. During the final month of the ban imposed on LION ROCK, the horse will be able to use the facilities mentioned previously, plus the swimming pool, the aquatred, the grass, the small All Weather Track and the large All Weather Track.
Another horse stewards inquired into was LOMBARD, trained by John Moore. LOMBARD bled at Happy Valley on 16 January 2002 and it has since been established that he worked on the small All Weather Track on 9, 11 and 12 March 2002.
In accordance with Stewards Instruction 8, LOMBARD was not entitled to resume working on the training tracks until 16 March 2002. As LOMBARD, prima facie, had worked in contravention of the regulations, it was withdrawn by order of the Stewards from its engagement at Happy Valley tomorrow night. An inquiry into this matter will be conducted at the Happy Valley Racecourse tomorrow tonight commencing at 6:15 pm.
Preliminary investigations also indicate that a number of other horses which have suffered a bleeding attack during the current racing season and are still in work may have used the training facilities in contravention of the Rules. The horses involved are TELECOM TWIN, trained by Eddie Lo; LUCKY SIX, trained by Peter Ho; DECOUVERT, SPLENDID BO BO, MY FAVOURITE and TOYMARK, all trained by John Size; and JUST WIN, trained by Andy Leung. Inquiries regarding a possible breach of the regulations will be conducted at a date to be fixed.
By: Jo Adams - Thursday, 23 May 2002

[Homer J.]

Press release - L Ho, J Size & Benno Yung
23 May 2002
Trainer L Ho
The Stewards today interviewed Mr L Ho, trainer of LUCKY SIX. LUCKY SIX had suffered a bleeding attack on 24 February 2002. It was established that LUCKY SIX had worked on the small All Weather Track on the mornings of 18, 19, 20 and 23 April 2002. This work was contrary to Stewards Instruction 8 as LUCKY SIX was using the training track within the two months period of it having bled.
Mr Ho pleaded guilty to having breached Stewards Instruction 8 in that as the trainer of LUCKY SIX, he permitted the horse to use the training track when it was not eligible to do so. For this breach of the Instruction, Mr Ho was fined $30,000.
He was further advised LUCKY SIX will be stood down from racing until 23 July 2002. During the first month of this period, LUCKY SIX will be restricted to using the horse walkers, the lungeing ring and both trotting rings. During the final month of the ban imposed on LUCKY SIX, the horse will be able to use the facilities mentioned previously, plus the swimming pool, the aquatred, the grass, the small All Weather Track and the large All Weather Track.
Trainer J Size and Assistant Trainer Benno Yung
The Stewards also today interviewed Trainer J Size, his assistant trainer, Mr Benno Yung, regarding reports that DECOUVERT, SPLENDID BO BO, MY FAVOURITE and TOYMARK had used the Club's swimming pool in contravention of Stewards Instruction 8.
Mr Size produced evidence that DECOUVERT, after having bled at a race meeting on 26 January 2002, was restricted to the walking machine until it went to Beas River to spell on 31 January 2002. SPLENDID BO BO, after having bled at the races on 24 March 2002, was restricted to the walking machine until 29 April 2002, then proceeded to Beas River to spell. MY FAVOURITE, after having bled at the races on 3 April 2002, also was restricted to the walking machine until 29 April 2002, then went to Beas River for spelling. TOYMARK, after having bled at the races on 11 May 2002, has since been restricted to exercise on the walking machine.
Not only did Mr Size produce work sheets to confirm this evidence, it was also verified by Mr Yung. Mr Yung acknowledged he has been providing the swimming pool supervisor with a list of horses from the Size stable each day which were allegedly to swim. This list is copied for weeks at a time without amendment and has on many occasions been inaccurate. This has led to the Club providing the press and users of the Club's website with inaccurate information. Mr Size said he was not aware of the procedure being followed by Mr Yung.
During the course of the interview, evidence was also taken from Mr J P Ridley, Manager, Racing Operations and Equestrian, who said the Club relies upon the information being supplied by the stable to be accurate.
Mr Size pleaded guilty to a charge of having breached Rule 50(2). That Rule states:-
"Each trainer shall be responsible for all matters pertaining to the running of his stable including stable routine, the well being and proper feeding and care of the horses in his care, security inside the stable and the work of the stable staff allocated to him."
The particulars alleged against Mr Size were that as a licensed trainer with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, he allowed his assistant trainer, Mr Benno Yung, whose work Mr Size is responsible for, to provide the Club each day with a list of horses trained by Mr Size which suggested such horses had used the Club's swimming pool. The lists provided were manifestly inaccurate and included DECOUVERT, SPLENDID BO BO, MY FAVOURITE and TOYMARK, horses which were under bar because of bleeding. Mr Size was fined $25,000.
Mr Yung pleaded guilty to having breached Rule 12(32) in that as a licensed assistant trainer, his negligence in the performance of his duties had led to a breach of the Rules by Mr Size. Mr Yung was fined $10,000 and told a full transcript of the inquiry would be passed onto the Manager, Racing Operations and Equestrian for his records.

[Homer J.]

The mid-week race meeting scheduled for the night of Wednesday, June 5 has been
switched from Happy Valley to Sha Tin and the race programme has been revised.
The change in venue was made necessary by the condition of the Happy Valley turf track
following recent storms. The club's Manager for Racing Operations and Equestrian, John
Ridley, described it as a precautionary measure.
"Every year in May the tracks go through a transition period when the winter rye grass is
replaced by the summer bermuda grass," he said. "This year, because of the weather
pattern of rain and heat, the transition has been traumatic and the effects were acerbated
by having to race in the rain.
"Moving the race meeting to Sha Tin will allow the summer grass to get better
established and minimise any possible threat to the racing programme. Sha Tin also has
been affected, but not to the same degree, because the growing environment there is
different."
The new race programme comprises five races on the Sha Tin all-weather track and two
on the turf. The night's scheduled feature race, the Cricket Club Valley Stakes, has been
upgraded to Class 2 and will be raced on the all-weather surface.
Entries for the meeting close on Friday. Details of the new programme are attached.
Members' guest badges purchased for the meeting remain valid for Sha Tin racecourse,
but where the change is inconvenient for guests, members can return the badges and the
cost will be credited to their account.
* * *

[Tony Soprano]

The Jockey Club decided today that an additional $10 million from the Triple Trio Jackpot Reserve will be allotted to top up the pool's jackpot on Wednesday (12 June) night to $20 million. It is estimated that the dividend for a single $10 winning bet could reach $60 million.
Chances of winning huge dividends keep rolling in as the Club is going to top the Super Weekend's Triple Trio jackpot for next Sunday's (16 June) race meeting to a minimum of $38 million. It is estimated that if there is only one single $10 winning bet, the lucky winner could win up to $90 million on the End-of-Season race meeting day.
........THE BLOODY LEAST THEY COULD DO !

[hobbes]

the JC actually made a monumental fuckup by saving the j/pot reserve to compete with the WC as the 2 $40m j/pots only attracted about $75m and $68m in new money whereas had they allocated earlier the $40m might have attracted anywhere from $120m to $160m.

[corkey boy]

China vs Turkey World Cup match broadcast live at Sha Tin Racecourse
To provide football fans in the New Territories with an exciting venue to watch the World Cup match between China and Turkey, special arrangements have been made by the Hong Kong Jockey Club to broadcast the match live at Sha Tin Racecourse on Thursday, 13 June.
"The Club has received many requests from the public to use its venues and facilities to show World Cup matches for the public to participate in the fun of the tournament," said a spokesman for the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
"The public grandstand of the Sha Tin racecourse will be open for free admission. Via the giant Diamond Vision Screen and the closed-circuit television systems in the racecourse, soccer fans can experience the excitement of the match."
The match between China and Turkey will kick off at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, 13 June. The public grandstand will be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Drinks will be available for sale. Car parking spaces at Sha Tin Racecourse are available on a first-come-first-served basis at a fee of $20 per car.
Should members of the public have any enquiries, please call the Jockey Club's hotline at 1817.
I wonder will they do the same for the finals ??
Typical after the ball try and save face BS from the club.

[Scarper]

i wonder how many bookies will get in!!!

[Scarper]

the JC actually made a monumental fuckup by saving the j/pot reserve to compete with the WC as the 2 $40m j/pots only attracted about $75m and $68m in new money whereas had they allocated earlier the $40m might have attracted anywhere from $120m to $160m.
yep - it seems that this tactic didnt work well.
They should have also concentrated on the mid week meetings where the pools are bigger.

[politically correct]

They've performed like France when it comes to the World Cup.
And now news they are considering postponing tonight's fixture? What an almighty anti-climax that would be.
Trainers and jocks wouldn't be too happy. Most are booked on flights out of here either Sunday night or Monday.

[jack]

They should have done their homework better.
And I'm tipping they will race tonight because it would just be too big a disruption to hold over till next week.

[hobbes]

And now news they are considering postponing tonight's fixture? What an almighty anti-climax that would be.
maybe better to just cancel altogether as i am not too interested in tonights mtg but don't want it held over to next week either.

[jack]

Just heard it's GO for tonight.

[Homer J.]

Helene Vitality and Able Choice will travel to Australia on July 1 to prepare for races there later this year. These horses will remain in training at Sha Tin until their departure.
They may use the trotting rings and the Riverside Gallop and will be able to train between 7:00am and 7:30am daily until June 30.
Helene Vitality, trained by David Hayes, is being aimed at the Caulfield Cup (Gr.1-2400m) on October 19 and the Melbourne Cup (Gr.1-3200m) on November 5. The John Moore-trained Able Choice is also headed to Victoria for the Live Well Cup (Gr.1-1400m) on September 22 and the Caulfield Guineas (Gr.1-1600m) on October 12.
Meanwhile, Indigenous, trained by Ivan Allan, is a possible contender for the Grosser Preis von Baden (Gr.1-2400m), the sixth leg of the World Series Racing Championship on September 1. Indigenous has eight points in current WSRC rankings.
And Northern Gold Ball was today transferred to Eddie Lo. (clever choice ??? )
[ June 18, 2002: Message edited by: Homer J. ]

[hobbes]

And Northern Gold Ball was today transferred to Eddie Lo. (clever choice ??? )
you've lost me ??? :eek: :eek: :confused: :confused: :eek: :eek:

[jack]

Most of the horses trained by the now-retired Wong Tang-ping were today transferred to other stables and I imagine plenty of interest was in Northern Gold Ball....and where he would finish up.
Have to agree it was a surprising choice to give such a good horse to Eddie Lo.
[ June 18, 2002: Message edited by: jack ]

[jack]

ALAN AITKEN
------------------------------------------------
The Jockey Club will know tomorrow whether the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities is to grant international Group One status to December's Hong Kong Sprint.
The club flagged the announcement amongst a pot-pourri of notices yesterday, including an extra week in the new racing season and alterations to lead-ups for Hong Kong's international day contenders.
"The IFHA decision will be made on Thursday and I have been asked to explain our case," said executive director of racing, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.
"We have an average international rating of 113.5 for the Sprint and it is higher than some recognised international Group One events," he said. "Although there are no prizemoney increases being made for next season, the Sprint would be an exception and raised to an appropriate level if granted Group One standing and that also forms part of our application. We are optimistic."
Also in the area of the international meeting on December 15, the executive director announced changes to the traditional lead-ups - the Hong Kong Sprint Trial (1,000m), Chevalier Cup (1,600m), and Pok Oi Cup (2,000m).
"We may sacrifice something in turnover, but feel these events will serve better as lead-up races for our best horses if they are run at weight for age conditions," he said. "Instead of the best horse having to carry 133 pounds in a handicap, it is likely they will carry 126 and there will be allowances for horses which have not won Group races."
The season will run from September 1, 2002, to June 22, 2003, or a week longer to allow for an easier spread of meetings through the months and cut wear and tear on the tracks and no additional race meetings will be staged.
Other programming changes include the bringing forwards of the Queen Mother's Memorial Cup to May 10 to allow it to act as a lead-up the Champions And Chater Cup on June 1.
The QE II Cup will be a week later on April 27, as will the Derby meeting on March 23, 2003 - one week before the Dubai World Cup, which has again moved.
And the Juvenile Sprint Trophy conditions have been altered to exclude Griffins which have not raced in Griffin races. The club has also announced a change in policy regarding the compulsory retirement of low-rated horses. Previously, horses rated 24 or lower were retired automatically at the season's end, unless they were three-year-olds to Southern Hemisphere time or Northern Hemisphere four-year-olds.
"The policy was to give these younger horses an extra chance, but we have reviewed the past performances of this group and found that they do not improve with the extra year," Engelbrecht-Bresges said. "From next season, horses rated 27 or lower, will be compulsorily retired at the conclusion of the season, regardless of age."
Amongst the Licensing Committee announcements, French rider Olivier Doleuze will be back after agreeing to a club jockey contract from October 14 to April 14, and freelance jockey Henry Tsang's licence was approved for next season after coming through a "show cause" hearing successfully.
In the training ranks, Peter Chapple-Hyam failed for the second year running to meet the club's performance criteria, and will be required to show cause why he should hold a licence should he fail to meet those standards in the next or any subsequent season.
The Jockey Club has also requested a written explanation from David Hill for his yard's performance this season when the former championship winner also failed to meet the criteria.
David Hayes' work rider, Chan Che-chung has been promoted to assistant trainer and the club will announce a further assistant trainer in the near future.