Hong Kong Horse Racing

The Hong Kong Sprint

Inaugurated in 1999, the Hong Kong Sprint is a Group 1 flat horse race for thoroughbreds aged three and above. Being one of the most awaited races in Hong Kong, this race is played out annually in mid-December for 1,200 metres or six furlongs at the Sha Tin Racecourse.

For this Cathay Pacific-sponsored race, participating horses must be 126 lbs. with an allowance of 4 lbs. for fillies and mares. The Hong Kong Sprint is one of the four Hong Kong International Races together with the Hong Kong Cup, the Hong Kong Mile and the Hong Kong Vase.

Originally ran for 1,000 metres, this competition was the richest 1,000-metre horse race in terms of prize pool. Since 2002, it has been classified as a Group 1 event while its current distance was first implemented in 2006. Now, the Hong Kong Sprint Cup is the last leg of the Global Sprint Challenge series and it is staged after The Age Classic.

This event has a prize pool of HK$12,000,000 or around US$1.55 million and since its inception, horses Falvelon, Silent Witness and Sacred Kingdom have proven their dominance in this turf, right-handed track by winning two Hong Kong Sprints apiece. Falvelon won in 2000 and 2001 while Silent Witness won in 2003 and 2004. Sacred Kingdom got his Hong Kong Sprint victories in 2007 and 2009.

As for the jockeys, Gerald Mosse, Damian Oliver, Felix Coetzee and Brett Prebble have won two of the Hong Kong Sprints each as well. Oliver won in 2000 and 2001 while Mosse won in 2002 and 2007. Coetzee won in 2003 and 2004 while Prebble grabbed victory in 2006 and 2009.

Meanwhile, Ricky Yiu is the most successful trainer in Hong Kong Sprint history with three of which under his belt. He gained his victories in 1999, 2007 and 2009. As for the owners, Dawn Falvey et al, Archie & Betty da Silva and Sin Kang Yuk have two apiece. Falvey won in 2000 and 2001, The da Silvas won in 2003 and 2004 and Yuk won in 2007 and 2009.

Hong Kong Sprint History