Hong Kong International Races
The Hong Kong International Races is one of the most anticipated international events in thoroughbred racing. Known as the Turf World Championships, the second Sunday in December is the world’s year-end confluence of elite international talent channeled into four great races.
The Post Time for those of us in the states will be 11:35 PM EST on Saturday, Dec 11 with racing going into the early morning.
The Hong Kong Cup, Hong Kong Mile, Hong Kong Sprint, and The Hong Kong Vase attract leading horses, jockeys, and trainers from around the world, and are among the richest purses in racing.
Hong Kong International Sprint
First raced over 1000 meters in 1999, it became a 1200-meter (about six-furlong) race in 2006, and it has been dominated by locally-trained gallopers. Of the 22 previous editions, only six have been won by horses trained outside Hong Kong.
Hong Kong International Mile
Five of the first seven winners of this 1600m (about one mile) race were foreigners: Docksider (Great Britain, 1999), Sunline (New Zealand, 2000), Eishin Preston (Japan, 2001), Firebreak (Britain/UAE, 2004), and Hat Trick (Japan, 2005). Only Olympic Express (2002) and Lucky Owners (2003) scored for Hong Kong.
Hong Kong International Cup
This 2000m (about 1 1/4-miles) event has been a much more internationally competitive race in its history than the Sprint or the Mile. In the 11 editions from 1999 to 2010, the only local victories went to Vengeance of Rain (2005) and Precision (2002).
Hong Kong International Vase
Not surprisingly for a 2400m (about 1 1/2-mile) turf race, the Vase has been the best race for foreigners among the international races. Indeed, since 1999 there have been only two locally-trained victors: Dominant (2013) and Exultant (2018).
The Post Time for those of us in the states will be 11:35 PM EST on Saturday, Dec 11 with racing going into the early morning.
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Visit the TwinSpires.com Edge for up to date coverage of the Hong Kong International Races.