Making of a legend recaptured at Racing Museum's Silent Witness Exhibition

9 March 2007

Although Hong Kong's favourite racing hero Silent Witness has now made his last public appearance before taking a well-earned retirement in Australia, his legendary character and spirit will live on, thanks to a new exhibition opened by The Hong Kong Jockey Club today (9 March).

Entitled Silent Witness - A Racing Legend, the exhibition will run from now until the end of this racing season at the Hong Kong Racing Museum, adjacent to Happy Valley Racecourse. In addition to recalling the well known racing achievements of this remarkable champion, the exhibition aims to show visitors some lesser known details about the horse himself - his sire and dam, his birthplace, his everyday life and his new retirement home.

Among the exhibits are many fascinating items of personal memorabilia loaned by the Owners of Silent Witness, Arthur Antonio and Betty Da Silva, among them the gelding's "horse passport", issued under his original name of Eltira. Other interesting souvenirs include the brochure of his yearling sale, his stable nameplate, a horseshoe that fell off during his debut race, a number cloth worn in Japan, items of his riding tack and grooming gear, and two welcome letters from his new home in Australia. There is also a copy of the Time magazine feature that named Silent Witness among the "people who mattered" around the world in 2004 - an extraordinary achievement for a racehorse. Visitors can enjoy a specially-produced video of Hong Kong¡¦s legendary racing hero in the Museum's theatre.

Joining the da Silvas at today's opening ceremony, Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges remarked that although the Racing Museum staged regular thematic exhibitions, this was the first time one had been mounted to honour a single horse. "I don't think anyone could argue, though, that it is not richly deserved," he said. "Silent Witness is not just the most successful horse in our racing history, he has become an icon of Hong Kong. I have never seen a horse capture the public's hearts so completely.

"We hope this exhibition will illustrate the wonderful personality and fighting spirit of Silent Witness, qualities which so endeared him to the public and led him to become the symbol of Hong Kong's own 'can do' spirit," Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges added.

Responding, Mr da Silva noted that although Silent Witness would be retiring happily back to Australia, he was sure Hong Kong people and all the horse's fans worldwide would not forget him. "We will all remember him forever as the 'Spirit of Hong Kong'," he said.

Besides the special Silent Witness exhibition, The Hong Kong Racing Museum offers visitors many fascinating insights into the history of horse racing in Hong Kong and the Club's long-standing role as a community benefactor. It also stages other thematic exhibitions on a regular basis. The Museum is located at 2/F, Happy Valley Stand, Wong Nai Chung Road (opposite the end of Queen's Road East), Tel: 2966 8065. It is open on Tuesdays to Sundays and most Public Holidays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.  During day race meetings at Happy Valley, it opens from 10:00 am until 12:30 pm only.