Sha Tin Racecourse

Sha Tin Racecourse is one of the two racecourses for horse racing in Hong Kong. It is located in Sha Tin in the New Territories. It is managed by Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Sha Tin Racecourse
沙田馬場
LocationSha Tin District,  Hong Kong
Owned byHong Kong Jockey Club
Date opened7 October 1978
Capacity85,000
Course typeThoroughbred
Notable racesGroup One races:
Hong Kong Derby
Queen Elizabeth II Cup
Champions Mile
Hong Kong International Races
Hong Kong Triple Crown
Official website
Sha Tin Racecourse
Southeast Panorama over the Sha Tin horse race course
Traditional Chinese沙田馬場
Racecourse Concourse
Covered Parade Ring
Public Betting Hall at Level 1

Penfold Park is encircled by the track, and the Hong Kong Sports Institute is located immediately south of the property.

Michael Jackson planned to perform at the racecourse on his Dangerous World Tour, which was the start of the third leg, but was cancelled due to the conflict of the racing season.

History

It was built in 1978 (under the administration of Sir David Akers-Jones, the then-Secretary for the New Territories) on reclaimed land and is the larger of the two tracks in Hong Kong.

The course has 474 races per season including:

On September 9, 2007, Sha Tin race track opened for the season with an opening day record 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, booted by Howard Cheng got the trophy in the 1,200 metre dash.[1]

Features

Originally built with capacity for 35,000 and one grandstand, it now has capacity for 85,000 and two grandstands. It also has 20 stables for a capacity of 1,260 horses.

Other features include:

  • Equine Hospital
  • Racing Laboratory
  • Equine Swimming Pool
  • Riverside Gallop

Track Specifications:

  • Turf
    • Straight: 430 metres (470 yd)
    • Circumference: 1.899 kilometres (1.180 mi)
  • All Weather Track(Dirt)
    • Straight: 380 metres (420 yd)
    • Circumference: 1.560 kilometres (0.969 mi)

Major races
Group One
Group Three

Transport

The racecourse is served by Racecourse Station of the Mass Transit Railway (MTR). The station is only used on racing days. There are also several bus routes. One of the racecourse bus routes, KMB 872, had a deadly bus crash.

References
  1. ChannelNewsAsia.com, HK's Sha Tin race course opens to huge crowds

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