The Happy Valley Million Challenge, scheduled originally to begin last Wednesday but postponed due to the cancellation of the race meeting, will now get under way this Wednesday, 10 September 2003. The Challenge, a new initiative this season, will comprise Happy Valley races of Class 3 or above up until 31 December 2003. The five placed horses in each qualifying race will earn points that could win them a share in the HK $1 million bonus.

Three of the races on Wednesday's race card are counted in the competition. One of them has been scheduled as Race 7 namely the American Club Challenge Cup, a Class 2 event over 1000m carrying HK$1,000,000 prize money. Mr. Salvatore M Petrancosta, President of the American Club, will present the trophy and a miniature to the winning owner.

The American Club Challenge Cup was run annually for some years until 1938. In that year, the race attracted 33 entries but Mr. Eu Tong Sen's CAMERONIAN was the only declared starter. Carrying a hefty 164 lbs, it literally walked to victory. In 1961, the American Club Challenge Cup race was re-introduced and has since been competed for annually.

For the Million Challenge, points will be awarded according to the following system: winner 12 points, second 6, third 4, fourth 3, and fifth 2. The list of the 10 leading contenders will be published after each Happy Valley meeting.

When the competition ends at the last Happy Valley meeting in December 2003, a total bonus of HK$1,000,000 will be awarded to the owners of the three horses with the highest accumulated points. The top horse will receive $650,000 and a trophy; the second will receive $250,000 and the third $100,000.