A popular sporting event is the Seven-A-Side Rugby Tournament (called the Sevens), held in March or April. During the cooler winter months, a number of marathons are held, of which the best known are the Hongkong-Shenzhen Marathon in February and the China Coast Marathon in March. There are also tennis tournaments, including the Super Tennis Classic and the Marlboro Championship. If you enjoy watching golf, the highlight of the year is the Hong Kong Open Golf Championships, held in December at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling (the New Territories).
If you're here anytime from September to mid-June, join the rest of Hong Kong at the horse races. Horse racing got its start in the colony in Happy Valley more than 150 years ago, when British settlers introduced the sport, making the Happy Valley track the oldest racecourse in Asia outside China. There is also a newer, modern track in Sha Tin (the New Territories), which can accommodate 90,000 spectators.
Without a doubt, horse racing is by far the most popular sporting event in Hong Kong. It's not, perhaps, the sport itself that draws so much enthusiasm, but rather the fact that, aside from the local lottery, racing is the only legal form of gambling in Hong Kong. There are more than 100 off-course betting centers throughout Hong Kong. Winnings are tax-free.
Races are held Wednesday evenings and some Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Both tracks feature giant color screens that show close-ups of the race in progress, photographs of jockeys and trainers, and videos of previous races. It's fun and easy to get in on the betting action, and you don't have to bet much -- the minimum wager of HK$10 (US$1.30/70p) per race is enough.
The lowest admission price is HK$10 (US$1.30/70p), which is for the general public and is standing-room only. If you want to watch from the more exclusive Hong Kong Jockey Club (www.hkjc.com) members' enclosure (there are stands here so you can sit down), are at least 18 years old, and are a bona-fide tourist, you can purchase a temporary member's badge for HK$100 (US$13/£7.70) on regular race days and HK$150 (US$19/£12) on rare special race days. It's available upon showing your passport at either the Badge Enquiry Office at the main entrance to the members' private enclosure (at either track) or at designated off-course betting centers, including those at 10-12 Stanley Street in Central and 4 Prat Ave. in Tsim Sha Tsui. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
To reach Happy Valley Racecourse, take the tram to Happy Valley or the MTR to Causeway Bay (take the Times Square exit and walk toward the Wong Nai Chung Rd.). To reach Sha Tin Racecourse, take the KCR railway to Racecourse Station.
On the other hand, an easy way to see the races is to take a guided tour to the tracks. For information on current sporting events and future dates, contact the Hong Kong Tourism Board (tel. 852/2508 1234).
