Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges has hailed “one of the best, if not the best” Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) after almost 70,000 people descended on Sha Tin for the city’s biggest race day.

Among the 69,916 on course were roughly 10,000 tourists – including a record 6,511 from the mainland, up 40 per cent on last year – and new Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui, who stepped into the role just days ago after the sacking of Kevin Yeung Yun-hung.

In a recent Post exclusive, Engelbrecht-Bresges outlined a desire to double the number of mainland tourists watching races in the city by 2030, while there is also a push to attract greater visitor numbers from other countries.

“She was with us so we could showcase what we currently do and what we want to do,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said of Law’s attendance at Sha Tin racecourse so soon after stepping into her new job.

“She is definitely very interested to expand this whole development when it comes to tourism and she sees the tremendous potential Hong Kong racing has to attract tourists from around the world and from the mainland. We will build even more facilities for attracting tourists.

“We will see a complete figure [later] but I think we would have probably around 3,000 people who have come [from places like Australia, Japan and Europe].

“The feedback from the tourists who were here, especially from Australia, they were more than impressed.

“One of the reasons we put the Rain concert in the beginning was so it’s not about only racing, it’s about making a whole event.

“We are not in the same league as Las Vegas Formula One but there is a direction to create this atmosphere and I am convinced we can double the amount of tourists from overseas.”

The Rain concert ensured Sha Tin was abuzz from well before the first race, and a string of captivating contests ensured that atmosphere remained until the closing fireworks went off.

With 10,775 heading to Happy Valley, the total crowd of 80,691 was the highest HKIR attendance since 2018.

Overall betting turnover of HK$1.71 billion was marginally up on last year, while a commingling record of HK$473.8 million meant an increase of 10 per cent on money bet from overseas.

“I personally think it was one of the best, if not the best, Longines Hong Kong International Races and an incredible week. Starting with the Longines International Jockeys’ Championship, it was an amazing success,” said Engelbrecht-Bresges of a meeting broadcast live into 29 countries.

“Today, we hoped to create a highlight and I personally think everything went to perfection.”

On the track it was a marquee day for the home team, with Romantic Warrior leading the way by smashing recently retired Hong Kong superstar Golden Sixty’s prize money world record.

By winning a record third straight Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m), Danny Shum Chap-shing’s superstar lifted his haul to HK$177.3 million.

Ka Ying Rising and Voyage Bubble also delivered elite performances for Hong Kong, while the win of overseas raider Giavellotto in the Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) was the first British success at HKIR since 2012.

Law wasn’t the only notable onlooker, with former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson front and centre as the horse he owns, Spirit Dancer, ran eighth in the Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m).

“When you talk to the overseas owners, even if their horses finish second or third, they say it was a wonderful experience to come to Hong Kong and support the meeting,” said Engelbrecht-Bresges.

“We would like to thank all the owners, trainers [and] jockeys who have brought their horses here because we can make this a global event only if we have the support of the owners, trainers and jockeys from overseas.

“We have one new [Hong Kong] racing fan in Sir Alex. He was absolutely enthused about Hong Kong and what he saw, so he promised to come back.”