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| Staff Writer |
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The Hong Kong Jockey Club concluded a historic season on July 14, marked by the passing of the "Horse of the Year" title.
Throughout the 2023-24 term, the HKJC hosted 88 race meetings at its premier Sha Tin Racecourse in New Territories and the unique in-town Happy Valley course. The total racing turnover for the season was HK$134.7 billion (approximately US$17.24 billion), a 4.5% year-on-year decrease, reflecting Hong Kong's recent economic challenges.
Despite the economic downturn, on-track performances were exceptional, both locally and globally. The season was highlighted by the achievements of the newly crowned Horse of the Year, Romantic Warrior, and the dominance of Hong Kong horses, which won six of the seven Group One races during the two major international race days.
Four of Hong Kong's stars—Romantic Warrior, Golden Sixty, Lucky Sweynesse, and California Spangle—were ranked in the top 15 in the 2023 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings. Additionally, California Spangle secured victory in the Al Quoz Sprint (G1T) in Dubai in March.
Romantic Warrior emerged as the star of stars for Hong Kong, securing top-level victories in three different countries.
He made history by becoming the first Hong Kong horse to win the Gr.1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in Australia in October. He then returned home to triumph in the Gr.1 Hong Kong Cup, Gr.1 Hong Kong Gold Cup, and Gr.1 QEII Cup . He capped off his stellar season by defeating Japan’s best milers in the Gr.1 Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo in June. These five elite-level wins set a new record for the most Group \ One victories in a single season by a Hong Kong-trained horse.
Romantic Warrior's remarkable achievements earned him the title of Horse of the Year, supplanting the three-time winner Golden Sixty. Age, lingering injuries, and track conditions finally caught up with the 8YO Golden Sixty. Despite these challenges, Golden Sixty delivered one of the season's most thrilling moments, surging down the Sha Tin straight to dominate a world-class field in last year’s Gr.1 Hong Kong Mile after a 224-day hiatus and from an outside gate.
Among the humans, it was a blend of the old and new celebrating championships. Zac Purton secured his seventh jockey title with 130 victories, while Francis Lui clinched the top-trainer honors for the first time, a race that was decided in the final meeting.