Sha Tin Racecourse facts for kids
Overview of Sha Tin Racecourse in May 2009
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| Location | Sha Tin District,  Hong Kong |
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| Owned by | Hong Kong Jockey Club |
| Date opened | 7 October 1978 |
| Capacity | 85,000 |
| Course type | Thoroughbred |
| Notable races | Top Races: Hong Kong Derby Queen Elizabeth II Cup Champions Mile Hong Kong International Races Hong Kong Triple Crown |
| Sha Tin Racecourse | |||||||||||||||||||
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Southeast Panorama over the Sha Tin horse race course in October 2009
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| Traditional Chinese | 沙田馬場 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 沙田马场 | ||||||||||||||||||
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The Sha Tin Racecourse is a famous place in Hong Kong where exciting horse racing events happen. It is one of two main racecourses in the city. You can find it in the Sha Tin District in the New Territories. The Hong Kong Jockey Club manages this large and busy sports venue.
Right in the middle of the race track, there is a lovely green space called Penfold Park. It's a great spot for people to relax. Also, the Hong Kong Sports Institute is very close by, just south of the racecourse.
Did you know that the famous singer Michael Jackson once planned to perform here? It was going to be part of his Dangerous World Tour. However, the show didn't happen because the dates clashed with the horse racing season.
Contents
History of Sha Tin Racecourse
How the Racecourse Was Built
The Sha Tin Racecourse was built a long time ago, in 1978. It was created on land that was "reclaimed." This means that parts of the sea were filled in with earth to make new land. It's a very big track, even larger than Hong Kong's other racecourse.
Exciting Race Seasons
Every year, the racecourse hosts many races. There are about 474 races each season! Some of the most important races include the Hong Kong Derby and the Queen Elizabeth II Cup. These races attract top horses and jockeys from all over the world.
On September 9, 2007, the Sha Tin track opened for a new racing season. It was a huge day, with about 60,000 people attending. This was a record for an opening day! The Chief Secretary, Henry Tang, started the event by striking a special gong. The Hong Kong Jockey Club collected a lot of money in bets that day. It was the highest amount since 2001. Children of horse owners were allowed to attend, which was a new thing. A horse named Sunny Power, ridden by Howard Cheng, won the 1,200-meter race.
Features of the Racecourse
Grandstands and Stables
When it was first built, the main seating area, called the grandstand, could hold 35,000 people. Now, there are two grandstands that together can hold up to 85,000 visitors! That's a lot of people watching the races. The racecourse also has 20 stables, which are like homes for the horses. These stables can house up to 1,260 horses.
Special Facilities for Horses
Sha Tin Racecourse has some amazing facilities to keep the horses healthy and ready to race:
- Equine Hospital: This is a special hospital just for horses, where they get the best medical care.
- Racing Laboratory: Here, scientists study things related to horse health and performance.
- Equine Swimming Pool: Horses can swim in this pool for exercise and to help their muscles recover.
- Riverside Gallop: This is a training track where horses can run at high speeds.
Race Track Details
The racecourse has two main types of tracks:
- Turf Track: This track is made of grass.
- The straight part is about 430 meters (470 yards) long.
- The entire track is about 1.899 kilometers (1.180 miles) around.
- All-Weather Track (Dirt): This track is made of a special dirt-like material.
- The straight part is about 380 meters (416 yards) long.
- The entire track is about 1.560 kilometers (0.969 miles) around.
Major Horse Races
Top-Level Group One Races
These are the most important and prestigious races at Sha Tin. Winning a Group One race is a big achievement for a horse and its team.
- Hong Kong International Races (held in December): This event includes several major races:
- Hong Kong Cup - a 2000-meter race.
- Hong Kong Mile - a 1600-meter race.
- Hong Kong Sprint - a 1200-meter race.
- Hong Kong Vase - a 2400-meter race.
- Hong Kong Triple Crown: This is a series of three races. If a horse wins all three, it achieves the Triple Crown!
- Hong Kong Stewards' Cup - 1600m (January)
- Hong Kong Gold Cup - 2000m (February)
- Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup - 2400m (May)
- Other important Group One races include the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (April) and the Champions Mile (April).
Other Exciting Races
There are also many other important races, categorized into Group Two, Group Three, and Listed Races. These races help horses and jockeys prepare for the top Group One events. Some examples include the Premier Bowl (Group Two) and the Celebration Cup (Group Three). The Four-year-old Series, which includes the Hong Kong Derby, is a special set of races for younger horses.
Getting to the Racecourse
Public Transport Options
It's easy to get to Sha Tin Racecourse on race days!
- MTR Train: The racecourse has its own train station, called Racecourse station. It's part of the Mass Transit Railway system. This station is only open when there are races.
- Bus Routes: Several bus routes also go to the racecourse. One of these routes, KMB 872, was involved in a bus accident in 2018.
See also
In Spanish: Hipódromo de Sha Tin para niños
