Horses may be qualified and imported from the following countries:
Argentina
Great Britain
Peru *
Australia
India *
Singapore *
Brazil *
Ireland
South Africa *
Canada
Italy
United Arab Emirates
Chile *
Japan
United States of America
France
Malaysia *
Germany
New Zealand
* No protocols to permit direct importation of horses into Hong Kong.
B. Age and Starts Conditions
Age#
(at time of arrival)
2-year-olds
3-year-olds
4-year-olds
Maximum
No. of Starts
10
As
a 2yo
10
As
a 3 yo
15
As
a 2 yo
10
As
a 3 yo
15
As a 4yo
15
Maximum
Career Starts
10
17
17
# Horses must be imported into Hong Kong before they turn five years old.
C. Performance Qualifications
1. Normal Permit / Normal Replacement Permit
Horses must have a confirmed Hong Kong rating of 70 or higher at the time of import, and be qualified and imported from one of the countries listed above.
Hong Kong Ratings are provided by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Handicappers upon request by Permit Holders and/or Trainers. Ratings supplied and/or published by foreign racing jurisdictions do not determine qualification for import.
Permit Holders and/or Trainers must obtain prior written confirmation from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Handicappers that a horse is qualified for import in accordance with the Import Criteria. Any confirmation thus issued is subject to all circumstances remaining unchanged in respect of the horse and will be automatically revoked when circumstances do change (e.g. age change or the horse racing again). In that case, re-confirmation of qualification for import is required. It is the sole responsibility of the Permit Holder to ensure that the horse satisfies the Import Criteria and all other requirements for import into Hong Kong.
2. Special Replacement Permit
Horses must have a confirmed Hong Kong rating of 85 or higher at the time of import;
Or in the case of a three-year-old which has run no more than five times, have a confirmed Hong Kong rating of 80 or higher at the time of import, based on form shown as a three-year-old;
Or in the case of an owner who is issued with a Special Replacement Permit for the first time, have a confirmed Hong Kong rating of 80 or higher at the time of import;
And
have won a race or been placed 2nd or 3rd in a Group or Listed race;
And
be qualified and imported from one of the countries listed above.
Hong Kong Ratings are provided by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Handicappers upon request by Permit Holders and/or Trainers. Ratings supplied and/or published by foreign racing jurisdictions do not determine qualification for import.
Permit Holders and/or Trainers must obtain prior written confirmation from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Handicappers that a horse is qualified for import in accordance with the Import Criteria. Any confirmation thus issued is subject to all circumstances remaining unchanged in respect of the horse and will be automatically revoked when circumstances do change (e.g. age change or the horse racing again). In that case, re-confirmation of qualification for import is required. It is the sole responsibility of the Permit Holder to ensure that the horse satisfies the Import Criteria and all other requirements for import into Hong Kong.