Hong Kong’s Happy Valley Racecourse – Guide, Map, Racing
Happy Valley Racecourse is one of two tracks located in Hong Kong. The racing season extends from September through July and is held on Wednesday evenings. Weekend races are also occasionally hosted.
While Sha Tin Racecourse is larger in terms of sheer size and prestige, Happy Valley Racecourse remains one of the most popular destinations for tourists because of its more central location. Races are open to the public and members, who enjoy access to premier viewing areas of the grandstands.
Also owned by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Happy Valley Racecourse pairs with Sha Tin to bring in billions in revenue, measured by both HK and USD standards.
Happy Valley race track facts
- Country: Hong Kong
- Capacity: 55,000 People
- Built: 1845
- Operator: Hong Kong Jockey Club
- Manager: Leisure and Cultural Services Department
HISTORY OF HAPPY VALLEY RACECOURSE
Originally built on swampland in 1845 to accommodate British expats, the area was the only area in the region that was flat enough to sustain a track. To make the land more palatable for a track, the government restricted rice growing in the surrounding areas. The first race was run in December 1846 and sowed oats for Thoroughbred racing in Hong Kong where rice had grown before it. Happy Valley Racecourse was rebuilt to a world class standard in 1995.
ABOUT HAPPY VALLEY RACECOURSE
The grandstands at Happy Valley Racecourse can seat 55,000 attendees and are seven stories tall. The paddock at Happy Valley Racecourse is known as the Parade Ring.
The facility is also home to the Hong Kong Jockey Club Archive and Museum, which has four galleries that display the history of the sport.
These include:
- The Origin of Our Horses – A history of equine migration patters in China
- Shaping Sha Tin – A history of construction at Sha Tin Racecourse
- Understanding Horses – Skeletal exhibit of Hong Kong Champion Silver Lining
- Thematic Exhibitions – History of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
In 1918, a temporary grandstand collapsed suddenly causing a massive fire which took 576 lives. It is the highest number of casualties for a single event in Hong Kong history.
Learn about Hong Kong’s Sha Tin Racecourse.