Sunday’s meeting at Sha Tin will take place in a restrained and respectful setting as the Hong Kong Jockey Club shifts its focus toward honouring the victims of the Tai Po fire. The Club’s support efforts will shape the day’s proceedings, with racing continuing under measures designed to reflect the city’s ongoing grief.
The meeting will be held behind closed doors, an intentional decision by the Club as the city continues to process the tragic fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Only Owners, Stewards, Voting Members and their invited guests will be allowed in attendance. Jockeys will wear black armbands, officials and riders will observe a minute of silence, and all usual entertainment will be suspended to maintain the dignity of the occasion.
In a major gesture, all gross income from Sunday’s meeting — estimated at around HK$70 million — will be donated to support victims of the tragedy in consultation with the Government. This contribution will take the Club’s total support to around HK$170 million, including the HK$100 million first-tranche donation it has already announced through its Charities Trust.
The Club has emphasised that it is “deeply saddened” by the loss of life, the injuries, and the personal hardships faced by families affected by the Tai Po fire. As part of its operational adjustments, the Mark Six draw originally set for Saturday will be postponed to next Tuesday, with all tickets remaining valid.
Sunday’s programme will unfold in a subdued, respectful atmosphere. The races will still be run, the horses will still surge down the straight, but the day will no longer be about spectacle — it will be about standing with a community in pain.
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