A record audience attended the National Day meeting at Sha Tin on Wednesday, with 32,357 people present, marking the largest attendance since 2018. The Hong Kong Jockey Club reported that 13,097 of the attendees were international visitors, while a notable 12,060 were from mainland China.
The overall attendance figure surpassed 34,000 when including nearby Happy Valley, reflecting a 38% increase from last year’s National Day event, which saw around 24,000 attendees. Wagering on the races also showed a slight uptick, exceeding HK$1.55 billion.
Mark Newnham has engaged jockey Alexis Badel to substitute for Luke Ferraris aboard My Wish in the upcoming Group Two Sha Tin Trophy on October 19, as Ferraris cannot meet the required weight. My Wish was previously competitive against Voyage Bubble, but will benefit from being lighter in this upcoming race.
Newnham expressed optimism about My Wish’s potential, citing recent improvements. Badel and Newnham celebrated recent successes at Sha Tin, including victories aboard Max Que and Fast Network.
- Why it matters:
- The increase in attendance and wagering could positively impact local businesses and tourism initiatives, highlighting a potential recovery in the sector.
- Stakeholders in the racing and tourism industries may leverage this momentum for future marketing and promotional efforts.
- The latest:
- Alexis Badel is set to ride My Wish in the Sha Tin Trophy, following successful recent performances that positioned Newnham among the top trainers for the season.
Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3327546/tourists-converge-national-day-races-record-numbers-initiative-going-viral
Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3327546/tourists-converge-national-day-races-record-numbers-initiative-going-viral