Second Card Cancelled at Happy Valley

The Hong Kong Jockey Club was forced to cancel Happy Valley Racecourse's Nov. 13 card due to safety concerns stemming from continued social unrest, in areas surrounding both the city oval and Sha Tin in the New Territories. It is the second cancellation of a live program at Happy Valley this season, following on from the first Sept. 18, however safety concerns on that occasion were caused by a single pro-establishment lawmaker whose horse was declared to run and who was insistent upon his participation.

There were suggestions as early as Wednesday morning that the meeting was in some jeopardy, as protests broke out at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) in Sha Tin, just one kilometre from the Sha Tin stable area, and casting doubt on the ability to transport horses to Happy Valley.

In a statement issued at 1:35pm local time Wednesday, the HKJC said: “In organising race meetings, the Club always puts safety as a top priority. The Club has been monitoring the situation in Hong Kong closely. It has conducted a thorough risk assessment of the race meeting tonight and concluded that the latest social unrest and public transportation situation throughout the territory do not support our employees and racegoers arriving and particularly departing from the racecourse smoothly and safely. As such, the Club has decided to cancel the race meeting at Happy Valley Racecourse tonight.”

According to South China Morning Post, Wednesday's protests were some of the worst since they began six months ago and caused a serious disruption of public bus routes and MTR train services. Many stations were closed and in one case, a train was forced to stop after it hit a bike and other objects that had been thrown onto the track. Passengers had to walk the last 100 metres in order to get to the station.

Happy Valley is home to the Longines International Jockeys' Championship, just three weeks away on Dec. 4. The Longines Hong Kong International Races take place at Sha Tin Dec. 8.