Author: GC

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Happy Valley Racecourse

One of the only two racecourses in Hong Kong, the Happy Valley Racecourse was established in 1845. The racecourse was built on the only available flat area in Hong Kong Island, which happened to be a swampland. It was reclaimed and the neighbouring villages prohibited from rice farming to nurture the sport. Horseracing was then a preserve of the British who were the elite, though the Chinese have since picked it up.

The Happy Valley Racecourse has a capacity of 55,000. The racing season in Hong Kong begins in September and goes all the way to July. Wednesday nights and some weekends are the most ideal times to catch races at Happy Valley and attendance is open not just to the Hong Kong Jockey Club members but the public as well.

To catch the excitement of the horseracing sport, one should not miss the Hong Kong International Races, the Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the Hong Kong Derby. The International Riding Champion is an award that goes to the winner of the International Jockey Championship, also held at Happy Valley. The night carnivals offer a wide array of entertainment, drinks, food and music, besides the live races.

The Parade Ring has a capacity of 1,400 spectators on four balconies. Its retractable roof gives one the opportunity to see and inspect the horses before the race begins, no matter the weather. The Happy Valley Racecourse also offers other leisure activities besides horseracing

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These include hockey, rugby and football all played on the course’s inner field. The Gift Shop has lots of event-themed souvenirs to buy and keep. The Hong Kong Racing Museum is situated on Happy Valley Stand’s second floor. Here, one can learn about Hong Kong’s racing history, complete with photos from the 19th Century. At the Adrenaline Bar, one can enjoy the live music and a cocktail, or a barbeque at the Beer Garden.

 

 

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California Chrome

California Chrome, bred, and initially owned, by Perry Martin and Steve Coburn and trained by Art Sherman, had the distinction of being named American Horse of the Year twice, in 2014 and 2016. Of his 26 races between 2013 and 2017, he won 16, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Dubai World Cup and four other Grade 1 contests, and earned over $14.75 million in total prize money.

 

A great grandson of A.P. Indy, American Horse of the Year in 1992, California Chrome finished sixth of 11, beaten 2 lengths, in the Del Mar Futurity, over 7 furlongs, as a juvenile, but it wasn’t until stepped up to middle distances in his three-year-old campaign that he started to make his mark at the highest level. In 2014, he won his first five starts, including the Santa Anita Derby – a first Grade 1 win for trainer Art Sherman – the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes.

 

Consequently, he started odds-on favourite to win the third, and final, leg of the American Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes. However, despite holding every chance on the outside at the two-furlong marker, he was soon ridden by jockey Victor Espinoza and faded late on to dead-heat for fourth, beaten 2 lengths, behind the winner Tonal. A review of the start of the Belmont Stakes revealed that Matterhorn, in stall 2, had struck into California Chrome, in stall 3, as they broke from the starting gate, forcing the favourite to race with a soft tissue injury and superficial tendon damage.

 

In July 2015, Steve Coburn sold his minority share in California Chrome to Frank Taylor of Taylor Made Farms, necessitating the formation of a new partnership called California Chrome LLC. The following year, California Chrome won three more races at the highest level, including the Dubai World Cup, but his final race, the inaugural running of the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park, was an anti-climax. Sent off 6/5 second favourite, he was never really travelling and trailed in ninth of 12, beaten 30 lengths, behind Arrogate, who had beaten him just half a length in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park the previous November.

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Santa Anita Park

Part of what was the Rancho Santa Anita, the Santa Anita Park was opened on the Christmas of 1934 in Arcadia and was the first officially established thoroughbred racecourse in the whole of California. Named after Anita Cota, a relative of the original owner, Claudio Lopez, the Santa Anita Park is arguably the most glamorous racecourse in CA, with the flashy building against the background of the San Gabriel Mountains. It has a dirt track that is one mile long and a turf course that is 0.9 miles.

The races, especially after the lifting of the ban on betting, became a favourite of Hollywood stars, some of them even entering their horses in the races. Even during the Depression, business in the racecourse was still booming, with the Santa Anita Handicap raking in more money than any other race in the country.

The Santa Anita Derby is just as much of a favourite, whose winner is also expected to take the Kentucky Derby trophy. The day is packed with a series of 10 races. Held in early March, the Santa Anita Derby is deemed the most important in North America for horses that are older than four years, especially during the winter season. The 1937 film ‘Day at the Races’ by the Marx Brothers was actually shot on Derby Day at Santa Anita.

The Breeder’s Cup has been hosted at the Santa Anita Park eight times, which is a record no other racecourse has attained. The Vox Populi Award at Santa Anita usually goes to the horse that stole the hearts of the public.

Seabiscuit, whose statue immortalizes the likelihood of chance, won the Santa Anita Handicap in 1940. He is a symbol of hope despite the odds. And that spirit is evident throughout California, the hope that dreams can come true and anyone can be a winner.