Hong Kong 'Year of the Horse Race Day' Attracts Nearly 100,000 Visits

The "2026 Year of the Horse Race Day" event was held at Hong Kong's Sha Tin Racecourse on the third day of the Lunar New Year (19th), attracting nearly 100,000 visits, including over 20,000 tourists from Mainland China and overseas, setting a new record for Race Day attendance.

The Race Day on the third day of the Lunar New Year is one of Hong Kong's distinctive spring festivities, and this year coincides with the Year of the Horse. The Sha Tin Racecourse was bustling with people and filled with vibrant voices.

According to China News Service, the first race of the day started at noon, with the highlight being the sixth race at 3 pm— the "Year of the Horse Cup" championship. As soon as the starting bell rang, more than a dozen racehorses dashed out of the gates, vying with each other under their jockeys’ guidance. In the final sprint down the straight, many spectators rose to cheer and shout for their favorite contenders, filling the air with continuous cheers and screams.

There were a total of 11 races of varying classes held that day.

● Aaron Kwok: Inspired by the Races

As the Year of the Horse Ambassador for The Hong Kong Jockey Club, and the owner of three horses, Hong Kong artist Aaron Kwok also attended the event to bring New Year blessings to the audience. During a group media interview, he said, “Every time I watch horse racing, I feel especially inspired. In life, I am also like these racehorses—practicing diligently and giving my all—so that I can present my best on stage.”

Miss Huang, a tourist from Beijing, told reporters, “Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year events are really rich—there are horse races, fireworks displays, totally different from Beijing’s temple fairs.”

Miss Huang said that Race Day made her feel the festive atmosphere of Chinese and Western cultural fusion. The next time she comes to Hong Kong, she plans to visit the Happy Valley Racecourse to experience the night races.