Macau
History
The Macau Jockey Club's colourful racecourse on the Island of Taipa had an unusual beginning - it was originally a harness-racing track.
Although harness-racing is popular in North America, Australia and New Zealand, the new concept did not catch on with Asian sporting fans and the venture was closed down in the late 1980s.
But the venue, including a five-storey grandstand with a typhoon-proof enclosure, large computerised videomatrix screen, the most modern totalisator machines and all other necessary facilities, remained intact.
A newly formed consortium later seized the opportunity to transform the failed venture into a track for the far more popular sport of horse-racing.
The original trotting track was expanded and converted for thoroughbred racing, and the first meeting took place on a sand track on the afternoon of September 10, 1989.
An outer turf track was opened in June 1990 and racing is now approximately 56% on turf and 44% on sand.
Trainers and Jockeys come from various parts of the world, and the racehorses mostly were imported from Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
With over 1,000 thoroughbreds now in training and with close to 1,000 owners, the decision to introduce horse-racing to Macau has clearly been well justified.
Name of Racing Authority: Macau Jockey Club
Postal Address: Hipodromo Da Taipa
Tel: (853) 821188 Fax: (853) 820503
Web Site: www.macauhorse.com
Chairman: Dr Stanley Ho
Board of Directors:
Dr Cheng Yu Tung, Dame Winnie Ho Yuen Ki, Mr Li Chi Cheung, Mr Kenneth Liang Kin Man, Mr Joaquim Morais Alves, Me Cheng Yung Pun, Mr Lui Siu Mun, Mr Albert Ho, Mrs Nanette Yuen Hung Fung Ho, Ms Angela Leong On Kei, Mr Ambrose So Shu Fai, Mr Lee Wai man, Mr Peter Yu Kam Ching, Ms Deborah Ho, Mr Wong Ming Ngan, Ms Chin Tes Shun
Senior Racing Executive: Mr Ian Paterson (Director of Racing)
Executive Office & Stables Manager: Mr Dominic Leung
Senior Betting Manager: Mr Ronnie Chan
Senior Audio Visual Manager: Ms Amy Lau
Senior Veterinary Surgeon: Dr Martin Wainscot
Contact for Overseas Liaison / Information: Mr Yen Tai Kei
Statistical:
Racing Season: September 2001 to August 2002
| Number of Racecourses | 1 |
| Number of Fixtures | Flat 111 |
| Number of Races | Flat 111 |
| Number of Runners | Flat 14,105 |
| Number of Horses in Training | 997 |
| Number of Trainers | 32 |
| Number of Jockeys | 50 |
| Number of Owners | 1192 |
| Name | Classification International/Domestic | Date | Prize Money(HK$'000) | Racecourse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Macau Derby | 4 yrs | 7 April | 2,200,000 | Taipa |
| 2.Macau Gold Cup | Open | 26 May | 800,000 | Taipa |
| 3.The Macau Star of The Sand Stakes | 4 yrs | 30 June | 700,000 | Taipa |
| 4.Macau Sprint Trophy | 4 yrs | 7 April | 700,000 | Taipa |
| 5.Chairman's Challenge Cup | Open | 23 June | 650,000 | Taipa |
| 6.Director's Cup | Open | 23 March | 650,000 | Taipa |
| Name | Approx Date | Racecourse |
|---|---|---|
| 1.Macau Derby | 7 April | Taipa |
| 2.Macau Apprentice Jockey Invitation cup | 12 May | Taipa |
| 3.Charity Day | 8 June | Taipa |
Total Prizemoney (Local Currency - Macau Pataca, HK$)
HK$300,797,000 - Provided by Racing Authorities
HK$4,146,000 - Provided by Sponsors Contributions
Average Prizemoney Per Race (Total) HK$251,604
Exchange Rate to US$: US$1 = HK$7.8
| Betting | Totalizator | Yes | Off Course | Yes |
| Bookmakers | No | Off Course | No |
Total Betting Turnover / Year (2001/2002)
On Course 1,150,667,948
Off Course 2,112,653,411
Principal Bet Types Win, Place, Quinella, Q. Place, Double Quinella, Double Trio, Triple Trio, Six-Up, Tierce
Betting Deductions Govt Tax (%) 3%
Retained by Authority (%) 17%
The Macau Jockey Club's colourful racecourse on the Island of Taipa had an unusual beginning - it was originally a harness racing track.
Although harness racing is popular in North America, Australia and New Zealand, the new concept did not catch on with Asian sporting fans and the venture was closed down in the late 1980s.
But the venue, including a five-storey grandstand with a typhoon-proof enclosure, large computerised videomatrix screen, the most modern totalisator machines and all other necessary facilities remained intact.
A newly formed consortium later seized the opportunity to transform the failed venture into a track for the far more popular sport of horse racing.
The original trotting track was expanded and converted for thoroughbred racing, and the first meeting took place on a sand track on the afternoon of September 10, 1989.
An outer turf track was opened in June 1990 and racing is now approximately 56% on turf and 44% on sand.
Trainers and Jockeys come from various parts of the world, and the racehorses are imported from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.
With over 1,000 thoroughrbeds now in training and with over 1,000 owners, the decision to introduce horse racing to Macau has clearly been well justified.