Death of Hong Kong racing legend Brian Kan Ping-chee aged 84

Brian Kan Ping-chee, one of the most successful trainers in Hong Kong racing history, has died at the age of 84.

A leading figure in the sport in Hong Kong, Kan won five trainers' championships, most recently in 2001, and amassed 844 wins – a record at one time.

Kan was best known for winning the Hong Kong Derby five times, including with Yuno When, the first of the trainer's two Hong Kong Horse of the Year winners alongside Flying Dancer, who won the inaugural Hong Kong Cup in 1988.

Paying tribute, Hong Kong Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said: "Brian was not only a remarkable trainer with outstanding training records, but also a good teacher with strong commitment to nurture home-grown racing talents, particularly trainers and jockeys for the next generation. They include Dennis Yip, also a champion trainer, Me Tsui and Jimmy Ting. All of them are seasoned trainers in Hong Kong.

"It is unquestionable that Kan played an important role in the development of Hong Kong racing.

"On behalf of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to his family."

Kan, who spent time working in racing in Britain in the 1960s, had a troubled career in rural politics after retiring as a trainer and served two prison terms for buying votes.

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