REWARD the first to carry coveted yellow saddle cloth on

15 September 2003

REWARD, a declared runner in Race 8 on Wednesday's race card, will be the first horse to carry the yellow saddle cloth identifying a leader in the Happy Valley Million Challenge.

REWARD, along with FLYING GENERAL and DASHING CHAMPION, is joint leader of the Happy Valley Million Challenge. They each obtained 12 points when they won their races last Wednesday, when the Challenge began. From now on, all leaders will wear the yellow saddle cloth when they run in the Challenge races.

A new initiative this season, the Challenge comprises all Happy Valley races of Class 3 or above up until 31 December 2003. The five placed horses in each qualifying race earn points that could win them a share in the HK $1 million bonus at the end of the competition.

Three of the races on Wednesday's race card count in the competition. One of them is Race 5, the Chinese Recreation Club Challenge Cup, and a Class 3 event over 1650m carrying HK $700,000 prize money. Dr Stanley Ho, Chairman of the Chinese Recreation Club, will present the Challenge Cup and a miniature to the winning owner.

Racing in Hong Kong turned professional in the early seventies. At that time, the Chinese Recreation Club decided to donate a Trophy to the Jockey Club as recognition of its long association with horse racing in Hong Kong. The inaugural running of the Chinese Recreation Club Challenge Cup was held at Happy Valley on 23 January 1971 and it 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.


- List of the 10 leading contenders of the Happy Valley Million Challenge