Hong Kong racing: a tradition of sportsmanship, dedication and fighting spirit
The city has always punched above its weight on the global stage and generations of home-grown racing stars have done the same
Many of these top jockeys and horse trainers have come to the city over the years to take part in numerous international competitions, including 12 of the globe’s most prestigious Group One races.
Four of them will take place at Sha Tin’s much anticipated Longines Hong Kong International Races on December 8 – four days after the Longines International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley, showcasing the city’s leading role as a centre for racing excellence.
Hong Kong boasts an international ecosystem of racing talent, with overseas jockeys racing in the city including Zac Purton, Hugh Bowman, Karis Teetan, Lyle Hewitson, Alexis Badel, Luke Ferraris and Andrea Atzeni. Notably, nearly half of the riders are home-grown, having graduated from the Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School.
Here we take a look at some of the jockeys and trainers from the city that have helped to shape racing, both locally and abroad.
Tony Cruz: from groundbreaking jockey to champion trainer
Cruz led the way for local jockeys during racing’s formative years of the 1970s, and he has continued to break new ground in his role as a trainer. When he first devoted his life to horse racing – just as his father, Johnny, a renowned jockey during Hong Kong’s amateur era, had done before him – the sport was still in its infancy in the city.
