Horse racing gets shot in arm as festive spectator numbers boom December 31, 2024 Horse racing tracks across the country boasted of increased attendances over the festive period as the sport got a much needed shot in the arm. Amid concerns in the sport about prize money and the number of horses starting in races, the Christmas break saw thousands flock to the country’s top courses. Newbury say spectator [...]
Purton on track to become Hong Kong Legend aboard St Paul’s December 31, 2024 MANY of the thousands of racegoers who go through the turnstiles for the New Year racing bonanza will make a beeline for the gift shops around Sha Tin racecourse. Local racing enthusiasts always want the start of the year to go off with a bang, and will rely on anything to bring them luck, and [...]
Theta to make light work of heavyweight California Spangle December 31, 2024 THE ACTION starts early for horse-racing fans in Hong Kong on New Year’s Day, when Sha Tin hosts an 11-race programme starting at 4.30am, featuring two Group Three contests, The Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (6.00am), a handicap over five furlongs, and The Chinese Club Challenge Cup (8.10am) over seven furlongs. The Bauhinia Sprint Trophy should provide [...]
Ahead of the Game: Man United cuts could be copied by other clubs December 30, 2024 Manchester United’s controversial move to slash the funding it provides to its charitable foundation as part of cost-cutting measures introduced by Sir Jim Ratcliffe could be followed by other Premier League clubs. The Manchester United Foundation are set to be the latest victims of Ratcliffe’s drive to cut costs at Old Trafford, with Sky News [...]
Entain reveal sports events punters bet on the most in 2024 December 26, 2024 Betting giant Entain has revealed the biggest sporting events of 2024, using their global sportsbook to identify which events saw the most bets placed. The Grand National was the runaway winner but 60 per cent of the top 10 featured matches from the summer’s Euro Championships in Germany. The NFL, Champions League final and golf’s [...]
Expect winning Embraces all round for Cody Mo December 24, 2024 HAPPY Valley in Hong Kong provides a bonus for enthusiastic racing fans on Boxing Day, by featuring a mammoth 10-race programme for the first time in living memory at the city track. With the early contests low-key affairs, the best advice is to concentrate on races later on in the card, starting with division two [...]
Improving galloper can put Fire back in Yip’s heart December 24, 2024 SURELY nothing can be more disheartening for a stable, and one that are in the middle of a purple patch at present, suddenly to find their star galloper is being transferred to another yard. That has happened to trainer Dennis Yip, who has saddled winners at three out of the last four meetings but has [...]
Thoroughbred aftercare programme launched by The Howden Way December 23, 2024 THOROUGHBRED Aftercare Programme’s (TAP) launch at the Howden Christmas Racing Weekend at Ascot Racecourse is the latest evolution in the significant investment made into eventing by David Howden. Further to the launch of The Howden Way in May 2022, which offers training and opportunities to riders of all ages and abilities, TAP has a clear [...]
McDonald can strike up a Divano partnership with Brahms December 20, 2024 IT IS last chance saloon for bettors to earn some extra cash at Sha Tin on Sunday, before all the Christmas festivities get underway next week. As per normal, the 10-race programme comprises some fiendishly difficult handicaps, and the feature race, the Poinsettia Handicap (9.50am) over six furlongs, is no different as it consists of [...]
Chung and Superstar to shoot to the top December 20, 2024 YOUNG three-pound claiming rider Angus Chung would have left the midweek racing at Sha Tin on a high, after a pillar-to-post victory riding Young Brilliant, and he looks sure to adopt similar tactics for the same ownership, when climbing aboard YOUNG SUPERSTAR in the Pok Oi Cup (8.10am) over six furlongs. It hasn’t been easy [...]