Longines Masters Hong Kong: First class flight for jet-setting horses could cost beyond US$30,000 – and other fun facts about equestrian sports
- Asian leg of Longines Masters Series held between Paris and New York events – the ‘Grand Slam of Indoor Showjumping’ – in mid February
- Event, viewed as one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian competitions, known for bringing together decision-makers, VIPS and world’s top 30 riders
On Wednesday nights throughout most of the year, thousands of veteran enthusiasts – plus a fair few amateurs – flood into Happy Valley racecourse in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, for an evening of horse racing.
The midweek event lures tens of thousands of urban dwellers, from racehorse owners and the rich and famous enthusiasts to the ordinary devotees – plus many visitors keen to experience the spectacle for the first time – as they unwind and indulge in one of the city’s great equestrian sporting traditions – often with a glass of wine or a pint or two in hand.
Hong Kong, which has a history of horse racing going back at least 170 years, is also leading the race in other equestrian sports in Asia, too, after hosting the equestrian events at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, when the city poured US$150 million into a world-class sporting infrastructure.
The Longines Masters Hong Kong – the Asian leg of the Longines Masters Series held between the Paris and New York’s offerings – known collectively as the Grand Slam of Indoor Showjumping – took place in the city from February 15 to 17.
In its seventh year, the competition, held at AsiaWorld-Expo, is regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian events and is known for bringing together leading decision-makers, VIPS and the world’s top 30 showjumpers.
