SHA TIN RACECOURSE MAKES OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY HISTORY

2 May 2008

Sha Tin Racecourse, setting for some of the world's finest racing over the past 30 years, made Olympic Torch Relay history today when it became the first of the Beijing 2008 Olympic venues to receive the Olympic Flame.

The Olympic Torch made its historic appearance on the Sha Tin turf when Club Chairman John C C Chan, who is also a Vice-President of the Equestrian Committee (Hong Kong) of Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, received the flame and was driven round the first 200 metres on the racecourse in a golf cart.

"I feel very proud and very honoured to have been a part of this historic occasion and to witness this occasion together with the whole community of Hong Kong. It's really a very great honour", Club Chairman said today.

"Hong Kong is the first city in China that the Olympic flame has come to and the equestrian venue in Sha Tin is the first Olympic venue to welcome the Olympic flame. That's very very exciting.

"It is also the first time in history that a racecourse has been incorporated into an Olympic equestrian venue, proving that horse racing is just as much a sport as equestrian sports. It also testifies the role the Club is playing as Outstanding Contributor and venue provider for the 2008 Olympic Equestrian Events", Mr Chan said.

The Club Chairman had been due to carry the Olympic Torch in a horse-drawn carriage on the first leg of the Torch Relay on the Sha Tin Racecourse today. One of the carriage horses slipped and fell just before the flame arrived at the racecourse. The horse was uninjured in the fall but there was some damage to the carriage and a rapid decision was made to transport the Chairman in a golf cart.

Other highlights in a momentous day included the Club's lively cheering party of over 300 Equestrian Youth Ambassadors in the Olympic equestrian venue, three horses in action on the Sha Tin Racecourse and the appearance of Hong Kong's top home-grown jockey Howard Cheng and Hong Kong's leading Olympic equestrian contender Kenneth Cheng, linking the two equine sports of racing and equestrian.

Twice champion apprentice, Cheng carried the Olympic Torch aboard an equestrian horse, Goldina, the second horse used on the racecourse after Paralympian Nelson Yip had his moment in the spotlight along the back straight on his Paralympic mount Icy Bet.

But the best was saved till last when Hong Kong equestrian team member and Club-sponsored rider Kenneth Cheng created the magic moment that will forever be etched on the memories of all those who witnessed this piece of Hong Kong history being played out on the turf of Sha Tin Racecourse.

Cheng, who had flown home to Hong Kong from his European training base specially to take part in the historic Torch Relay, cantered up the final straight on the flashy mare Audienz. Proudly holding the flaming torch aloft, 20-year-old Cheng steered the mare up the ramp and lit the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay cauldron in a burst of glory.