Hong Kong has become a horse racing haven in recent years, with high-profile events taking place in the region all year round. Below, we go over the top horse races in Hong Kong to bet on.
Hong Kong Cup
When it comes to horse racing in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Cup is undoubtedly the biggest event on the calendar. Held every year in mid-December, the Hong Kong Cup attracts both local and international competitors, making it a standout spectacle.
Since the Hong Kong Cup’s inauguration in 1988, only one horse – California Memory – has won the race twice, triumphing in 2011 and 2012. Naturally, the unpredictable nature of the race gives bettors an extra thrill, and the odds are always attractive.
Hong Kong Mile
Staged around the same time as the Hong Kong Cup each year, the Hong Kong Mile is another hugely prestigious race. The Hong Kong Mile is held at the famous Sha Tin Racecourse and welcomes both native and international participants.
The most successful horse in the history of the Hong Kong Mile is Good Ba Ba, as the Hong Kong-based thoroughbred achieved three straight victories between 2007 and 2009.
Hong Kong Vase
Like the Hong Kong Mile, the Hong Kong Vase is a Group 1 flat race open to thoroughbreds aged three or older. However, the Hong Kong Vase is longer than other popular races, with the horses and jockeys having to navigate a 2,400-meter track.
Four horses have won the Hong Kong Vase on two occasions: Luso (1996, 1997), Doctor Dino (2007, 2008), Highland Reel (2015, 2017) and Glory Vase (2019, 2021). Glory Vase also holds the race speed record, completing the event in 2:24.77.
Hong Kong Classic Mile
The Hong Kong Classic Mile is the first event within the Hong Kong “classic” generation, along with the Hong Kong Classic Cup and Hong Kong Derby (more on those races a little later).
First held back in 1980, the Hong Kong Classic Mile is a Group 1 race for thoroughbred four-year-olds. Voyage Bubble won the most recent Hong Kong Classic Mile in 2023, with Australian jockey Jamie Kah in the saddle.
Hong Kong Classic Cup
The Hong Kong Classic Cup is a thoroughbred, set-weights race held at the Sha Tin Racecourse each February. Since the top three finishers are assured of ballot exemption for the Hong Kong Derby, the Classic Cup is always a big occasion for both competitors and bettors.
Hong Kong Derby
The Hong Kong Derby is the third and final event of the “classic” series, and it is also the most prestigious. Boasting a tasty HK$24 million prize, the Hong Kong Derby invariably dishes up high drama as participants bid to be crowned champion.
Hong Kong Gold Cup
Held annually since 1979 at the Sha Tin Racecourse, the Hong Kong Gold Cup sees the region’s best three-year-old thoroughbreds battle it out for supremacy. If you’re looking for the best horse races to bet on in Hong Kong, the Gold Cup is an excellent option.
