Events > Hong Kong International Races Day
 
 

 

Hong Kong International Races Day

Grand Ceremony, Pyrotechnic Display to Mark International Races
"smart city-coupé" car

The Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) for 2002, reaches a peak on Sunday 15 December with a tremendous day of racing, ceremony, a lucky draw and then, for the first time ever, a stupendous pyrotechnics display over Sha Tin Racecourse. It will be a day filled with the finest horses and jockeys in the world with non-stop entertainment that no racing fan should miss.

Before the racing starts there will be an opening ceremony in which all the jockeys riding in the HKIR will come on stage to say a big "Hello to Hong Kong" to the crowd. Mr Ji Peiding, Comissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the HKSAR, Selina Chow, Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, and Timothy Fok, President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, will officiate at the opening ceremony. Officials representing racing organisations around the world also will be at the race meeting.

HKIR watches

The Sunday festivities feature nine races including four international races -- the Hong Kong Sprint, Vase, Mile and Cup. Well-known personalities will present the awards to the winning jockeys, trainers and owners. Financial Secretary Antony Leung will present the Hong Kong Cup award. The races and awards will be telecast around the world to an audience as large as a billion.

Everyone attending the races has a chance to win in the lucky draw as tickets will be handed to each racegoer at entrance gates. The first prize is a two-seater "smart city-coupé" car made by Daimler Chrysler, represented by Zung Fu Co Ltd. Valued at HK$133,000, the car is just the size for driving in the narrow streets of Hong Kong. Second prize is an AIG credit card with HK$10,000 spending credit while third is a pair of HKIR watches worth $500. Winners must register at the racecourse once they see their lucky draw number posted. And, everyone will receive a Hong Kong International Races sports towel on entering the racecourse on a first-come, first served basis and while stocks last.

HKIR sports towel

The grand finale of the day and a salute to the horses and jockeys is a pyrotechnics display of the kind for which Hong Kong is world-renowned. The display is five minutes long and the exploding fireworks will send a cascade of colours up seven storeys high.

Sunday the 15th -- Come to Sha Tin Racecourse for a day you'll remember for the rest of your life.