HKJC donated life-size horse statue is on view in the Maison du Sport International (MSI) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The Co-operation Agreement signed between The Hong Kong Jockey Club and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Museum in Beijing in April this year has already borne its first fruit, with the recent opening of the 2008 Olympic Equestrian Exhibition at The Hong Kong Racing Museum in Happy Valley.

This must-see event, which runs until 28 September, is Hong Kong's first exhibition dedicated to the Olympic Games, Olympic equestrian events and equestrian sport. On display is a valuable collection of over 200 exhibits and photographs that give visitors an insight into the origins of the Olympic Games, the spirit of Olympism, equestrian sport and Hong Kong's role as a co-host city for the 2008 Olympic Equestrian Events. Over 80% of the exhibits have been specially loaned by the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, while others have been made available by the German National Equestrian Federation and the Riding for the Disabled Association Hong Kong.

Highlights of the exhibition include the torch used in the first Olympic relay at the Berlin 1936 Olympics; the Tokyo 1964 and Beijing 2008 Olympic torches which both passed through Hong Kong; winners' medals from the Antwerp 1920 and Munich 1972 Olympics; admission tickets for the equestrian events of 16 different Olympics, going back as far as Stockholm 1912; a "magic" US$1 note that brought luck to riders at three different Olympic equestrian competitions; and costumes of Olympic equestrian riders of different generations. Bringing the story up to the present day, models of Hong Kong's Olympic equestrian venues are also on display.

The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the first Olympics to be staged in China, have given Hong Kong a unique opportunity to participate as a co-host city for the Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events. It is hoped that this exhibition will allow the public to get a better understanding and appreciation of equestrian sport and share the excitement of this once-in-a-lifetime event.

Visitors can enjoy multimedia presentations of the Olympic equestrian events at the Museum's walk-in theatre. Films of the Olympic Games, equestrian sport and the Club's construction of the 2008 Olympic equestrian venues in Hong Kong are being shown on a specially-installed 120-degree curved cinema screen. On another screen can be seen historic footage of past Olympic equestrian events, compiled by the Olympic Museum in Lausanne.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club has contributed over HK$1.2 billion towards building the equestrian event venues, designing and managing their construction, providing supporting facilities and services, and fostering public interest in equestrian sports. In recognition of this, the Club has been officially designated as “Outstanding Contributor, Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Equestrian Events”.

As a further result of the Co-operation Agreement signed with the IOC Museum, the Club will in due course, develop a permanent Hong Kong Olympic Museum – the first Olympic Museum in China after the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The construction is expected to complete in two years. Further details of this will be announced at a later stage.

The Hong Kong Racing Museum is open to the general public, and admission is free. Complimentary guided tours of the 2008 Olympic Equestrian Exhibition will be arranged for the public from Tuesdays to Fridays at 3:00 pm and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm. Advance booking is recommended for groups of more than 10. Visitors can test their understanding of the exhibition and win souvenirs in a special quiz game. The Hong Kong Racing Museum is located on the second floor of the Happy Valley Stand at Happy Valley Racecourse on Wong Nai Chung Road (opposite the end of Queen's Road East) and is open from Tuesdays to Sundays and on most Public Holidays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. During day race meetings at Happy Valley, it opens from 10:00 am until 12:30 pm only.

For enquiries please contact the Racing Museum on (852) 2966 8065.