Jockey Club-sponsored LONGINES Hong Kong Masters opens The team of Joao Moreia and Daniel Deusser clinch the HKJC Race of the Riders

02/20/2016

The LONGINES Masters of Hong Kong, the premier event on Hong Kong’s show jumping calendar, was officially opened yesterday (19 February) at AsiaWorld-Expo. In The Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy, Bertram Allen from Ireland overcame strong competition from 26 leading world riders to take top honours. Meanwhile, in the highlight of the night, the returning HKJC Race of the Riders was won by Joao Moreia paired with Daniel Deusser. The last day of competition will be 21 February.

In sponsoring the LONGINES Masters of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is aiming not only to bring a world-class sporting event to Hong Kong but to further promote local equestrian sports. Speaking at last night’s event, the Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Dr Simon Ip said: “We are delighted to be a Founding Partner of the Longines Masters of Hong Kong and to support Asia’s largest show jumping event for the fourth consecutive year. Twenty-eight of the world’s leading riders, including Hong Kong’s own Jacqueline Lai, are here to compete for equestrian sport’s richest prizes.” Dr Ip added that the returning HKJC Race of the Riders was a unique opportunity to experience the strong partnerships between horses and riders.

This year’s HKJC Race of the Riders saw four Hong Kong jockeys –2014/15 Best Freelance Jockey Vincent Ho, 2014/15 Hong Kong Champion Jockey Joao Moreira, Irish jockey Neil Callan and local jockey Derek Leung - partnering with four leading equestrians riders: Simon Delestre from France, Daniel Deusser from Germany, Bertram Allen from Ireland and Jacqueline Lai from Hong Kong.

The competition took the form of a relay race. After the first round the two fastest teams advanced to the final, these being “The Magic” team consisting of Joao Moreira and Daniel Deusser, and “The Irish Flame” team with Neil Callan and Bertram Allen. In the end it was “The Magic” team which marked up the fastest time of 64.23 seconds to clinch the championship.

As part of its commitment to promote equestrian sport to the community, the Club again sponsored 2,000 local students and less privileged members of society nominated by schools, charities and NGOs to attend the first day of competition.

As a world-class horse racing organization, the HKJC is a long-term supporter of equestrian sport in Hong Kong. Since opening in the 1970s, the public riding schools operated by the Club have attracted many thousands of people to learn riding skills and horse care, with some 56,000 visits each year. Equestrian sports became even more popular following the equestrian events of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, held in Hong Kong with the Club’s support. The HKJC Equestrian Team and HKJC Junior Equestrian Training Squad were established by the Club in the same year with the aim of developing the potential of Hong King’s most talented riders. Several members have already won medals in international competition. To further enhance the capabilities of local riders, the Club launched the Hong Kong Equestrian Performance Plan in January this year. This merit-based programme is designed to nurture Hong Kong’s high-performing riders as they strive for equestrian excellence on the world stage.

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, as well as one of Asia’s most prestigious membership clubs. Operating as a not-for-profit organisation, the Club allocates its surplus funds for charitable and community projects. In 2014/15, its donations reached a record HK$3.87 billion, and in the last decade alone it supported over 1,300 projects. The Club is also Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer, contributing a record HK$20.05 billion in 2014/15. With about 70% of its revenue given back to society every year through donations and tax contributions, The Hong Kong Jockey Club delivers a significantly higher return to the community than any other racing and/or sports betting organisation in the world. As a socially responsible organisation, the Club helps Government combat illegal betting and advocates responsible gambling. The Club is also one of Hong Kong’s largest employers with over 24,000 full-time and part-time staff. 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.