Hong Kong Group 1 prize-money boosted by £2.6m for next season

An additional HK$20 million (£2.6m) will be on offer for top-level races in Hong Kong next season with the overall prize money for the 2020/21 season raised to a record HK$1.4 billion (£143.5m).

An extra HK$4 million (£410,000) has been put into the Hong Kong Derby to make it worth HK$24 million (£2.47m) and become the richest race in Hong Kong. It is the second richest Derby in the world, second to the Japanese edition worth the equivalent of £3.12m.

The Hong Kong Sprint will become the world's richest turf sprint following a further investment of HK$2,000,000 (£205,000).

The remainder of Hong Kong's Group 1 races have had prize money increases equivalent to 20 per cent, but there has been additional funds available at all levels.

Group 2 races are up 5.9 per cent and Group 3 7.7 per cent while, at the opposite end, an added HK$25,000 (£2,577) has been put into Class 5 level races and 33,000 (£3,402) at Class 4.

Andrew Harding, executive director of racing for the Hong Kong Jockey Club said: “For next season, the Club has increased prize money to a record overall sum, including a significant injection across all Class 1 to Class 5 handicap races and Group 2 and Group 3 contests. We believe this will help to enhance competition and assist our owners in their attempts to purchase and import the best possible horses in a difficult economic climate.

“Hong Kong is already home to the world’s richest turf races at 2,000 metres [1m2f], a mile and 1400 metres [7f], and, while our Group 1 prize money is strong, we have nonetheless identified a specific need to increase the prize funds for six of our Group 1 races, notably the Longines Hong Kong Sprint [6f], which regains its status as the world’s richest Group 1 turf sprint.

“We have also increased purses for each of our three Four-Year-Old Classic Series races, notably the BMW Hong Kong Derby, which regains its position as the second richest Derby in the world."

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