Hong Kong's 'Happy Wednesday' racing carnival offering free entry to Australian tourists, who only need to show their passport to get in
The Hong Kong Jockey Club plays host to two popular horse racing events at Happy Valley and Sha Tin - two courses within a 20km distance of each other and easily accessible by public transport.
Tourists aged 18 or above can get into Happy Valley's weekly Wednesday meet - suitably named 'Happy Wednesday' - just by showing their passport or travel document at the gate.
Sha Tin racecourse hosted the annual Hong Kong Derby on March 23 this year, drawing in massive crowds eager to watch the annual 2,000m race which exclusively features four-year-old racehorses.
Sky News host Tim Gilbert, who is presenting the two-part series Racing Dreams: Hong Kong, couldn't contain his amazement after dropping in on a Happy Wednesday racing event.
"It's exciting, it's powerful, it's heart-thumping, every superlative you possibly want to use, it's remarkable," Mr Gilbert said.
"I haven't seen anything quite like it and I've been covering sport for the best part of 40 years.
"And the best thing is if you're an Australian or anywhere else in the world, you bring your passport, your ID and you get in for nothing, or its HKD$10 (AUD$2)".
The Happy Wednesday meet is the racetrack's showpiece event and takes place just a short journey by bus or taxi from Hong Kong's busy nightlife district.
Hong Kong Jockey Club Executive Director Andrew Harding said the Happy Wednesday events are a top drawcard for visitors.
"We get a lot of people when they come from overseas - that is number one to number three, or somewhere in the top three things they wanna do when they come to Hong Kong," he said.
"It's very much a part of our vision that we need to introduce more audiences to it.
"Happy Valley with that Happy Wednesday experience is something really unique."
The Hong Kong Racing industry, which goes back to the 1840s, showcases the best of the world's racing talent, including top Australian jockeys.
Brenton Avdulla, Hugh Bowman and Zac Purton are a few of the Aussie jockeys to have made a mark in Hong Kong.
Purton said he never imagined he would end up in Hong Kong after hailing from Lismore in NSW, where he picked up "a bug" for horses as a young boy.
The seven-time Hong Kong champion jockey is the record holder for the most winning rides in the city, with more than 1,800 victories.
He broke the record at Happy Valley in January, earning him the title of Hong Kong's all-time king of jockeys.
Purton said achieving this feat was "very satisfying", but the journey was not always a straight forward one.
"It was something I wasn't stressed about or worried about," he said.
"To be honest I never thought I was going to get there, because I thought I was going to retire, leave and go, but once we made the decision to stay, it became a reality and of course I was getting closer and closer all the time.
"It was really touching and nice the club did what they did to have the bell and ring it every time I rode a winner to count down to the record."
Mr Harding said having a pool of horseracing professionals from around the world, including Australia, was essential in pushing the club into top gear.
"We want to be world class... that means taking the best talent from around the world and developing local talent," he said.
Another Aussie jockey Tommy Berry, who has carved out a world-leading reputation on the Hong Kong racing scene, has given the vibe at the Happy Valley meet the thumbs up.
"It's something you have to witness, as much as I tell you how good it is it's not going to be able justify what's it's like to actually be there in person," he said.
"When you feel like you've been to the best race tracks anywhere in the world, and you haven't been to Happy Valley, then you haven't been."
Mr Harding said Hong Kong horse racing is up there with some of the biggest sport events in the world.
"I certainly think we are in the pantheon of the biggest and most successful organisations," he said.
"Obviously there are other franchises that are extraordinarly successful but we aspire to be at that level."
Hong Kong is renowned for its bustling streets and popular areas including Kowloon - famous for its diverse shopping experiences - as well as the upscale malls and historical markets on Hong Kong Island.
The nightlife offers an array of rooftop bars, cocktail lounges and live music venues, with a busy harbour and breathtaking skyline.
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