The
Hong Kong Jockey Club is one of the largest racing organisations
in the world. Horse racing is the most popular spectator sport in
Hong Kong and through its subsidiaries, the Club is the only authorised
operator of horse racing. It also operates the Mark Six lottery
and under Government authority offers betting on football matches
held outside Hong Kong.
The Club is the largest single taxpayer in Hong Kong - HK$12,976 million in 2008/09, or about 6.8% of all taxes collected by the Government's Inland Revenue Department. A unique feature of the Club, much admired worldwide, is its not-for-profit business model whereby its surplus goes to charity. Over the past decade, the Club has donated an average of one billion Hong Kong dollars every year to hundreds of charities and community projects. Today, the Club ranks alongside organisations such as the Rockefeller Foundation as one of the biggest charity donors in the world.
The Club is also one of the largest employers in Hong Kong, with some 5,300 full-time and 21,000 part-time staff.
In August and September 2008, the equestrian events of the Beijing 2008 Olympics and Paralympics were successfully staged in Hong Kong at venues provided by the Club. In recognition of its contribution in building these venues and also committing the support of its equine hospital, Racing Laboratory and other facilities during the Games period, the Club has been officially recognised as "Outstanding Contributor, Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Equestrian Events."
