10th running of Sa Sa Ladies' Purse Day unveils 10-year perfect partnership between Sa Sa and The Hong Kong Jockey Club

09/10/2014

Sa Sa International Holdings Limited and The Hong Kong Jockey Club will jointly present the tenth Sa Sa Ladies' Purse Day (photo 1) on 9 November this year at the Sha Tin Racecourse. This year, Sa Sa and HKJC has invited famous actress Gao Yuan-yuan as the image girl. World renowned milliner Victoria Grant was invited again to work together with well-known local hat designer, Jaycow, local famous fashion designer, Kev Yiu, and a number of famous overseas hat designers to create different outfits for the event. Sa Sa hopes this international exchange of worldwide fashion talents will bring Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Day to the world’s grand stage.

Simon Kwok Siu Ming, BBS, JP, Chairman and CEO of Sa Sa, gave a speech at the event, saying “With the seamless collaboration between Sa Sa and The Hong Kong Jockey Club over these years, Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Day is now a flagship event of the year in Hong Kong. In the future, we will continue working closely to attract more on-course attendance. This year, we are very happy to have the world famous actress Ms. Gao Yuan-yuan as our Image Girl. Besides, a glamorous fashion show themed as “World Haute Inspirations” will be staged at the racecourse. I hope everyone will be attending this mega occasion that belongs to all Hong Kong people.”

Mr William A Nader, Executive Director of Racing of The Hong Kong Jockey Club said, “The Jockey Club and Sa Sa have worked together over the past decade to revitalize that tradition, mingling sport with beauty and glamour, making it a day for ladies to steal the spotlight with their beauty and chic attire.  Last year’s raceday attracted one of the season’s biggest crowds as over 65,000 people turned up to enjoy the exciting racing and we look forward to another big turn out on 9 November for our talk-of-the-town racing and fashion occasion.”

To celebrate the 10th anniversary, Sa Sa again invited the internationally famous milliner, Victoria Grant, to take Hong Kong as an inspiration and design a bespoke hat collection. Victoria will join hands with Hong Kong fashion designer, Kev Yiu to create a spectacular fashion show under the theme of “World Haute Inspirations” on the raceday. Besides, Sa Sa has made every effort to promote the international culture exchange. Therefore, it also invited well-known local hat designer, Jaycow, Marie Mercié, famous hat designer from France and Ward & Wylie from Australia to specially design a series of hat pieces for the preview show in today’s press conference.

Sa Sa Ladies' Purse Day will be held at Sha Tin Racecourse on 9 November 2014. The highly anticipated “Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse”, a HKG3 race over 1800m, will be staged as the feature race, with total prize money of HK$2.75 million. Race goers will receive a collectable souvenir brooch (photo 2) together with a Sa Sa discount coupon as door gift upon entering the Sha Tin and Happy Valley Racecourse (until the start of Race 5 or while stocks last). This year’s elegantly-designed brooch featuring a horse theme in silver colour is chicly embellished with sparkling stones and truly demonstrates the stylish and elegant image of Sa Sa Ladies Day. A series of themed merchandises, including watches, scarves, handbags, wallets and umbrellas, designed by fashion illustrator Mickco to show how a beautiful lady can dress well to attend a race meeting, are also available on 9 November.

Apart from the feature race “Sa Sa Ladies' Purse,” other races have been named after Sa Sa's international brands, including the L'Oréal Paris Handicap, KATE Handicap, REVLON Handicap, SUISSE PROGRAMME Handicap, SANA Handicap, Dr.G Handicap, Elizabeth Arden Handicap, Hadatuko Handicap and CYBER COLORS Handicap.

Attachment: Sa Sa Ladies' Purse Day Activities Fact Sheet

About Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Day
First run in 1846, the Ladies’ Purse is one of Hong Kong’s oldest races. A tradition established for over a century, ladies would attend the event dressed in their finest, while the owner, trainer and jockey of the winning horse would be awarded gold sovereigns by a renowned lady. Nowadays, the winner is presented with a gold coin inside a purse as a memento in honour of this venerable tradition.

About The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class horse racing operator and Hong Kong’s largest community benefactor, operating as a not-for-profit organisation.  Committed to global excellence and giving back to society, the Club is always “riding high together for a better future” with the people of Hong Kong. 

About Sa Sa International Holdings Limited

Sa Sa is a leading cosmetics retailing group in Asia. The Group currently operates over 270 stores and counters in Asia that sell more than 600 brands of make-up, skin care, fragrance and hair care products including its own brands and other exclusive international brands. The Group employs over 5,000 staff in Asia Pacific.