Do the Chinese do things by halves? No. Especially not when 'racing' and the 'Jockey Club' combine in the same sentence. The world's first fully retractable parade ring roof, renovated racing centre, Owners' Pavilion, saddling area and expanded public viewing balconies (across the second to fifth floors of the Grandstand) opened at Shatin race track on Sunday. Capacity at the paddock has doubled to 4,700 which for a town of avid race fans is a fabulous marketing initiative. The price for the development? A cool HK$400 million.

Shatin already has a 'world first' in its diamond vision screen (I dare anyone who has seen it to look me in the eye and say they watched the horses rather than the screen to about the 200 metre mark ... even then I sometimes forget to switch as the screen is just so BIG).

Not to be outdone the parade ring has followed suit. It's quite simply gigantic.
Photos are available from the Hong Kong Jockey Club website. The best photos are as follows: Image A and Image B

A change too for those who visit Hong Kong for the Internationals in December each year and who also take the opportunity to attend the International Sale (a rather unique black tie affair). This year the new paddock at Shatin will host the Sale on the Saturday (December 11) rather than the traditional venue - the Hong Kong Exhibition Centre on the Friday.

I'm not quite sure how the black tie/evening dress attire will fit with the new location (and given most of us go racing at Macau on the Saturday [you need your passport - it's a different country] the logistics will prove interesting) but I'm sure the HKJC have thought of something ... they usually do.


Photo: Diamond Vision Screen at Shatin race track, International Race Day
(c) Athlone & Assoc. 2003