Longines HKIR Day Prize Money Increased

[Wandering Eyes]

The 2018 Longines Hong Kong International Races will feature total prize money of HK$93 million (£8.9 million/€10.1 million/A$16 million/US$11.8 million), a 10% rise over 2017 and the anchor of substantial across-the-board increases in purses for the 2018/2019 season.

The richest of the four International races is the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, which will see its purse rise to HK$28 million, a 12% hike from last year and helping to maintain its status as one of the world’s two richest races over the metric mile and a quarter. The G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile and G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint remain the most lucrative Group 1 events at their respective distances and will offer respective prize money of HK$25 million (up by HK$2 million) and HK$20 million, an increase of 8.1% from last year. The G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase has seen its purse rise by 11% to HK$20 million.

“The Longines Hong Kong International Races rank as one of the world’s greatest racing carnivals,” said Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing, at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. “The December flagship is also one of Hong Kong’s most elite and globally recognised major events. It is important that the prize money for these races is at the level consistent with their status at the pinnacle of the sport and their significance to Hong Kong’s international status as a major events host.”

There will be no changes to purses for Champions Day in the spring. The G1 QE II Cup will continue to offer HK$24 million, the G1 Champions Mile HK$18 million and the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize HK$16 million.

Over the course of 88 meetings during the 2018/2019 season, a total of HK$1.22 billion will be offered, representing a 5% increase over the previous season. The increase applies to races at all levels in Hong Kong, notably an 8% bump for Group 3 races to HK$3.25 million and a 6% kick for Group 2 races to HK$4.25 million.

“It is very important to the Club that we support owners, who have consistently taken up the challenge of providing Hong Kong with the high-quality racehorses that are the backbone of our world-class racing,” Harding said of the broader purse hikes. “Maintaining high prize money recongises owners’ continuous efforts to purchase some of the best horses in the world, and that is vital for the ongoing strength of Hong Kong racing within a competitive global market.”

 

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