The Hong Kong Jockey Club announced on 8 May 2023 that total prize money and rewards for the 2023/2024 racing season will rise to as much as HKD 1.73 billion, a record high for the club1.
The Hong Kong Cup (2000m), already the richest race in Hong Kong, rises about 5.9 percent to HKD 36 million. The Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) rises 8.3 percent to HKD 26 million, which the club says makes it the richest Group 1 turf sprint in the world.
| Race | Distance | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | Rise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong Sprint | 1200m | HKD 24,000,000 | HKD 26,000,000 | 8.3% |
| Hong Kong Mile | 1600m | HKD 30,000,000 | HKD 32,000,000 | 6.7% |
| Hong Kong Cup | 2000m | HKD 34,000,000 | HKD 36,000,000 | 5.9% |
| Hong Kong Vase | 2400m | HKD 22,000,000 | HKD 24,000,000 | 9.1% |
Beyond the international races, the prize money for each of the 12 local Group 1 races rises by at least HKD 1 million, a combined HKD 20 million, with total prize money across all races up 10 percent1. The Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1400m Group 1) keeps prize money of HKD 13 million and remains the richest 1400m race in the world.
The club also pushed back the 2023 horse draw deadline to 5pm on Thursday 11 May because of the prize money increase1.
"浪琴香港國際賽事繼續廣獲譽為『世界草地錦標大賽』，來季總獎金達至一億一千八百萬港元，足證馬會矢志不懈吸引及獎勵全球頂尖人馬。"
The club said three of last December's Longines Hong Kong International Races Group 1 races made the 2022 Longines World's Top 100 Group 1 race rankings1. In a separate season review published on 16 July 2023, the club confirmed the HKD 1.73 billion figure and said local race prize money would rise 8 percent2.
What it means for players
Bigger purses are paid to owners and connections, not to bettors, and the club's own figures show the money comes from the same pools players bet into. For anyone betting on Hong Kong racing, whether at Sha Tin, Happy Valley or through an authorized operator, the takeout and pool structure are unchanged by the prize money announcement, and nothing in the club's statements indicates otherwise. The club also said that after the border reopening, offshore and illegal bookmakers pose a significant challenge to its business2.
What happens next
The 2023/2024 season prize money takes effect for the coming season, with the Longines Hong Kong International Races scheduled for December1. The club said Conghua Racecourse will hold its first regular race meeting in 20262. No further dates for the prize money changes have been reported.
For background on the sport and where betting is legal, see Betting on Horse Racing in Hong Kong and Horse Racing and Betting in Asia. General gambling rules are covered in Can I Gamble in Hong Kong? and Can I Gamble in China?.
Sources2 sources
- 浪琴香港國際賽事總獎金增至一億一千八百萬港元, 賽馬新聞, 香港賽馬會, racingnews.hkjc.com
- 2022/2023香港馬季圓滿結束 馬壇精英展本領創歷史, 賽馬新聞, 香港賽馬會, racingnews.hkjc.com
