Hong Kong Jockey Club

{{Short description|Institution in Hong Kong}} {{Use Hong Kong English|date=May 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}} {{Infobox company | name = The Hong Kong Jockey Club | logo = Hong Kong Jockey Club full logo.svg | logo_size = | type = Non-profit organization | foundation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1884|11|04}} | location = Hong Kong | key_people = The Hon Martin Liao, Chairman Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO | industry = Charity | products = Betting, lottery, sports | operating_income = | net_income = | num_employees = | parent = | subsid = | homepage = {{URL|https://www.hkjc.com/|hkjc.com}} | footnotes = }} {{Infobox Chinese |t=香港賽馬會 |y=Hēung góng choi máh wúi |j=Hoeng1 gong2 coi3 maa5 wui2 |altname=Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club |t2=英皇御准香港賽馬會 |j2=Jing1 wong4 jyu6 zeon2 hoeng1 gong2 coi3 maa5 wui2 |y2=Yīng wòhng yuh jéun hēung góng choi máh wúi }}

'''The Hong Kong Jockey Club''' ('''HKJC''') was founded in 1884 and is one of the oldest institutions in Hong Kong. In 1960, it was granted a royal charter and renamed the '''Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club'''. The institution reverted to its original name in 1996 in anticipation of the handover of Hong Kong in 1997. Membership of the club is by nomination and election.

It is a non-profit organisation providing horse racing, sporting and betting entertainment in Hong Kong. It holds a government-granted monopoly in providing pari-mutuel betting on horse racing, the Mark Six lottery, and fixed odds betting on overseas football events. The organisation is the largest taxpayer in Hong Kong, as well as the largest community benefactor and one of the city's major employers. In 2022/2023, The Hong Kong Jockey Club contributed a record HK$35.9 billion to the community. This comprised a record HK$28.6 billion in betting duty, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions, and HK$7.3 billion in approved charity donations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hong Kong Jockey Club Annual Report (for the Year Ended 30 June 2023) |url=https://corporate.hkjc.com/corporate/english/history-and-reports/2023/index.aspx#1 |website=hkjc.com |access-date=28 Dec 2023}}</ref> The club also proactively identifies, funds and develops projects which anticipate and address social issues and pressing needs in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Jockey Club also provides dining, social, sport and recreation facilities to its approximately 23,000 members. Its Charities Trust is also one of the world's top ten charity donors.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hong Kong Jockey Club |url=https://www.scmp.com/topics/hong-kong-jockey-club-1 |website=SCMP |access-date=24 Nov 2020}}</ref>

==History== Founded in 1884 as an amateur body to promote horse racing, it was an exclusive club whose membership was drawn from the upper class with strict rules of membership, with women and people of unsuitable background being banned. This led to the club having no Chinese members until the 20th century.<ref name=succumb>Eric Cavaliero, [http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=&art_id=26618&sid=&con_type=1&d_str=19970213&sear_year=1997 "Hong Kong Club members succumbed to redevelopment offer"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527061132/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=&art_id=26618&sid=&con_type=1&d_str=19970213&sear_year=1997 |date=27 May 2015 }}, ''The Standard'', 13 February 1997</ref>

In July 2005, a decision was made to stage equestrian competitions of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Hong Kong. The club's racing centre at Sha Tin was used as the foundation for the Olympic and Paralympic venues, with additional competition and training venues being incorporated into existing sports facilities at the Hong Kong Sports Institute, the Jockey Club Beas River Country Club and the adjacent golf course.{{fact|date=December 2024}}

In January 2023, after Regina Ip proposed increasing taxes on the Jockey Club's football betting revenue, the Jockey Club said that the move would "destroy" its business model and jeopardize public interest.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-29 |title=Hong Kong Jockey Club 'overreacting' to potential football betting tax raise |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3208353/football-betting-cheaper-run-horse-racing-top-hong-kong-government-adviser-says-jockey-club |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> In February 2023, after Financial Secretary Paul Chan increased football betting taxes, Chan said "They can have their reactions, and we will do what we have to do."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Peter |title=Hong Kong Budget 2023: Jockey Club to pay HK$12 billion football betting tax over 5 years to increase gov't income - Hong Kong Free Press HKFP |url=https://hongkongfp.com/2023/02/22/hong-kong-budget-2023-jockey-club-to-pay-hk12-billion-football-betting-tax-over-5-years-to-increase-govt-income/ |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=hongkongfp.com |date=22 February 2023 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Racing activities== thumb|Happy Valley Racecourse thumb|right|Sha Tin Racecourse On 9 September 2007, Sha Tin Racecourse opened after its summer break with record 1-day crowd of about 60,000. Chief Secretary Henry Tang struck the ceremonial gong. The Hong Kong Jockey Club collected US$106 million in bets (highest since 2001). Children of horse owners were admitted amid protest of local anti-gambling groups. ''Sunny Power'', ridden by Howard Cheng, got the trophy in the 1,200-metre dash.<ref name=channelnewsasia298977>{{Cite web |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/eastasia/view/298977/1/.html |title=ChannelNewsAsia.com, HK's Sha Tin race course opens to huge crowds |access-date=11 September 2007 |archive-date=13 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013091140/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/eastasia/view/298977/1/.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In January 2008, Eclipse and Sovereign Award winning jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson became the first North American female rider to be granted a license to compete in Hong Kong.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.racingnewswire.net/2008/01/27/emma-jayne-wilson-granted-hk-licence/|title=Racing News Wire | Just another WordPress site|access-date=7 February 2008|archive-date=4 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304044604/http://www.racingnewswire.net/2008/01/27/emma-jayne-wilson-granted-hk-licence/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Following the reform and other changes mentioned above, the HKJC revenue has steadily risen to previous levels and beyond. The total racing revenue for the Racing Season 2011/2012 reached HK$86.1 billion, up 43.4% since the 2006 reform.<ref name=hkjc2012rev>Hong Kong Jockey Club, [http://corporate.hkjc.com/corporate/operation/english/11-12-results.aspx "2011/12 Season End Results"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304123058/http://corporate.hkjc.com/corporate/operation/english/11-12-results.aspx |date=4 March 2016 }}, retrieved 15 August 2013</ref>

==Betting and the law== {{main|Betting on horse racing}} [[File:HK HongKongJockeyClub HQ.jpg|thumb|The head office in Happy Valley]] thumb|An off-course betting branch of the Hong Kong Jockey Club in Man Yue Street, Hung Hom. The HKJC has a legal monopoly over betting on horse racing and football. In 1974, it opened 6 off-course branches where the members of the public could wager on horse race meets at the club's Happy Valley Racecourse. There are now in excess of 100 betting branches throughout the territory that accept bets on racing and football, as well as buy Mark Six lottery tickets.<ref>[http://corporate.hkjc.com/corporate/operation/english/betting.aspx Betting Services for the 21st Century] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327161934/http://corporate.hkjc.com/corporate/operation/english/betting.aspx |date=27 March 2017 }}, HKJC. Retrieved 24 July 2007</ref>

==Social membership== Membership in this club is very strict, limited to the moneyed social elite. In the past, this club was reserved for only "old money" families; but currently there are increasing numbers of "newly rich" members.<ref name=thestandard20130111/>

As of 30 June 2022, the joining fee for racing membership is HK$150,000 whereas that for full membership is HK$850,000. Monthly fee is HK$850 and HK$2,550 respectively. <ref name=thestandard20130111>Ip, Kelly (11 January 2013). [http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=36&art_id=129987&sid=38666567&con_type=3&d_str=20130111&isSearch=1&sear_year=2013 "Join the club"] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130217191402/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=36&art_id=129987&sid=38666567&con_type=3&d_str=20130111&isSearch=1&sear_year=2013 |date=17 February 2013 }}. ''The Standard''.</ref>

In September 2021, the club terminated several memberships, including those of Martin Lee, Jimmy Lai, and Albert Ho.<ref name="expels">{{cite news |last1=Chow |first1=Carine |title=Jockey Club expels Lai, Lee and Ho |url=https://www.thestandard.com.hk/section-news/section/11/234326/Jockey-Club-expels-Lai,-Lee-and-Ho |work=The Standard |date=17 September 2021}}</ref>

==Charities== {{See also|Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change}}

The Charities Trust’s substantial donations to the community are made possible by The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s unique integrated business model, which comprises racing and racecourse entertainment, responsible sports wagering and lottery, a membership club, and charities and community contribution. Approximately 90% of the Club’s annual operating surplus after tax is donated to its Charities Trust, enabling it to play a significant role in the community’s development.<ref>{{Cite web| title=About The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust | url=https://charities.hkjc.com/charities/english/charities-trust/index.aspx}}</ref>

==Lease== The Happy Valley Racecourse occupies a 92,000 m2 plot of land on Inland Lot 8847, under a government-subsidized Private Recreational Lease.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|date=March 2018|title=Review on Policy of Private Recreational Leases|url=https://www.gov.hk/en/residents/government/publication/consultation/docs/2018/private_recreational2018.pdf|journal=Home Affairs Bureau}}</ref> The lease began in 1884 and currently is set to expire on 23 June 2034.<ref name=":0" />

''Hong Kong Free Press'' in September 2021 claimed that the Jockey Club has broken its earlier promise to return the land at the Happy Valley Racecourse in exchange for land in Shatin.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hamlett|first=Tim|date=2021-09-13|title=Short of land? Hong Kong picks on the small guy instead of challenging vested interests |quote=We could hold the Hong Kong Jockey Club to its long-broken promise to return the Happy Valley Racecourse to other uses in return for the rolling acres devoted to horse matters in Shatin. |url=https://hongkongfp.com/2021/09/13/short-of-land-hong-kong-picks-on-the-small-guy-instead-of-challenging-vested-interests/|access-date=2022-01-26|website=Hong Kong Free Press HKFP|language=en-GB}}</ref>

In August 2024, news reported that the Jockey Club would convert some land it leased cheaply from the government (HK$84,600 per year) to build and sell private residences with high potential profit,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-22 |title=A look at the controversy of Hong Kong Jockey Club’s prime real estate plans |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3275466/horses-homes-look-controversy-hong-kong-jockey-clubs-real-estate-plans?utm_source=rss_feed |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> with one researcher saying that such a plan was unfair and that "The government has leased the land to them at a very favourable price. It is not reasonable for them to profit fully from it."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-22 |title=For Hong Kong Jockey Club to decide on prime site’s use, authorities say |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3275387/hong-kong-jockey-club-can-decide-prime-sites-use-authorities-say-after-flats-plan-sparks-concern?utm_source=rss_feed |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref>

==Club chairmen== {| class="wikitable" |+ !# !Name !Tenure |- |1 |Phineas Ryrie, JP |1884–92 |- |2 |Sir Catchick Paul Chater, CMG, JP |1892–1926 |- |3 |Henry Percy White |1926–29 |- |4 |Charles Gordon Stewart Mackie, JP |1929–35 |- |5 |Marcus Theodore Johnson, JP |1935–39 |- |6 |Thomas Ernest Pearce, JP |1940–41 |- |7 |Percy Tester |1945–46 |- |8 |Sir Arthur Morse, KBE, JP |1946–52 |- |9 |Donovan Benson, OBE, JP |1953–67 |- |10 |Sir John Anthony Holt Saunders, CBE, DSO, MC |1967–72 |- |11 |Sir Douglas Clague, CBE, MC, QPM, CPM, TD |1972–74 |- |12 |Peter Gordon Williams, OBE, JP |1974–81 |- |13 |Lord Sandberg, CBE |1981–86 |- |14 |Sir Oswald Victor Cheung, CBE, QC, SC, JP |1986–89 |- |15 |Sir Gordon MacWhinnie, JP |1989–91 |- |16 |Sir William Purves, CBE, DSO, GBM |1992–93 |- |17 |Sir John Joseph Swaine, CBE, QC, SC, JP |1993–96 |- |18 |Wong Chung-hin, CBE, JP |1996–98 |- |19 |Alan Li Fook-sum |1998–2002 |- |20 |Ronald Joseph Arculli, GBM, GBS, CVO, OBE, JP |2002–06 |- |21 |John Chan Cho-chak, GBS, CBE, LVO, JP |2006–10 |- |22 |Thomas Brian Stevenson, GBS, JP |2010–14 |- |23 |Simon Ip Sik-on, GBS, CBE, JP |2014–18 |- |24 |Anthony Chow Wing-kin, SBS, JP |2018–20 |- |25 |Philip Chen Nan-lok, GBS, JP |2020–22 |- |26 |Michael Lee Tsz-hau, JP |2022–25 |- |27 |The Hon Martin Liao Cheung-kong, GBM, GBS, JP |2025–present |}

==Chief Executive Officer== The role of Chief Executive Officer was first known as the General Manager. Major-General Bernard Penfold was appointed as the club's first General Manager in 1972.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Major General Bernard Penfold - obituary|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11702150/Major-General-Bernard-Penfold-obituary.html|date=28 June 2015|website=The Telegraph|access-date=11 May 2020}}</ref>

#Major-General Robert Bernard Penfold, CB, LVO (1972–1979) #General Sir Arthur John Archer KCB, OBE (1979–1986) #Major-General Guy Hansard Watkins, CB, OBE (1986–1996) #{{ill|Lawrence Wong Chee-kong|zh|黃至剛}} (1996–2007) #{{ill|Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges|zh|應家柏}}, GBS, JP (2007–present)

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{commons category|Hong Kong Jockey Club}} * {{Official website|http://www.hkjc.com/home/english/index.asp}} * [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Hong+Kong&ll=22.399621,114.206486&spn=0.010254,0.014473&t=k&hl=en Satellite view of Shatin race track] * [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Hong+Kong&ll=22.272656,114.182367&spn=0.005127,0.007237&t=k&hl=en Satellite view of Happy Valley race track] {{HKJC|state=expanded}} {{Authority control}}

Category:1884 establishments in Hong Kong Category:Charities based in Hong Kong Category:Gambling companies of China Category:Gambling in Hong Kong Category:Gentlemen's clubs in Hong Kong Category:Horse racing organizations in China Category:Horse racing in Hong Kong Category:Lotteries Category:Organisations based in Hong Kong with former royal patronage Category:Sports governing bodies in Hong Kong Category:Sports organizations established in 1884