There is no doubt that horse racing is one of the most popular sports in Hong Kong. Every year, millions of people flock to the city’s racecourses to watch the thrilling action unfold.
And at the heart of every great race is a great jockey. These athletes are the ones who put their lives on the line every time they step onto the track, and their skills and abilities are what makes horse racing the exhilarating sport that it is. So, who are the most successful jockeys in Hong Kong? Here’s a look at some of the city’s most accomplished riders.
Joao Moreira
Joao Moreira is widely regarded as one of the best jockeys in the world, and he has certainly made his mark in Hong Kong. The Brazilian rider arrived in the city in 2012 and immediately began racking up wins. In 2013, he set a new single-season record for most wins by a jockey in Hong Kong with 155 victories. He would go on to break his own record the following year, with 168 wins.
And in 2015, he became the first jockey ever to surpass 200 wins in a season. Moreira has been named Hong Kong’s Jockey of the Year three times (2013, 2014, and 2015) and shows no signs of slowing down. His strike rate is 21.6%, and it’s important to note that over half of his 467 rides in Hong Kong have ended in the top four places. He held the Hong Kong records for the fastest jockey to 100 victories, the most victories on a single Hong Kong card (8), and the most victories in a season (170).
Zac Purton
Zac Purton is another jockey who needs no introduction. The Australian rider has been plying his trade in Hong Kong since 2006, quickly becoming one of the city’s most successful jockeys. In 2013, he was named Hong Kong’s Jockey of the Year after setting a new single-season record for earnings (HK$120 million). He has also been the city’s leading jockey in terms of wins on three occasions (2010/11, 2014/15, and 2015/16).
Purton currently has over 2,000 wins to his name, and his strike rate is 16.2%. He has won some of Hong Kong’s most prestigious races, including the Hong Kong Derby (twice), the Hong Kong Gold Cup, the Hong Kong Mile, and the Hong Kong Sprint. He is currently the second-ranked jockey in the world, and there is no doubt that he is one of the most successful jockeys in Hong Kong.
Douglas Whyte
Douglas Whyte is a legend in Hong Kong’s horse racing world. The South African jockey first arrived in the city in 1995 and immediately made an impact. He would go on to win an incredible 13 straight Hong Kong Jockey Championships, a feat that is unlikely ever to be matched.
Whyte is the only jockey in history to have won 1,000 races in a single season (he did so in 1999/2000), and he has amassed over 3,700 wins in his career. He has won some of Hong Kong’s most prestigious races, including the Hong Kong Derby (three times), the Hong Kong Gold Cup (twice), the Hong Kong Mile (twice), and the Hong Kong Sprint (three times). Whyte was named Hong Kong’s Jockey of the Year 11 times, and he is regarded as one of the best jockeys ever to grace the sport.
Karis Teetan
Karis Teetan is a Mauritian jockey who has been making waves in Hong Kong since 2011. He is currently the third-ranked jockey in the world and has quickly established himself as one of the city’s top riders. Teetan has won over 1,600 races in his career. He has won some of Hong Kong’s most prestigious races, including the Hong Kong Derby, the Hong Kong Gold Cup, the Hong Kong Mile, and the Hong Kong Sprint.
In 2017, he set a new single-season record for earnings by a jockey in Mauritius (US$1.6 million). Teetan is currently the leading jockey at Sha Tin Racecourse, and there is no doubt that he is one of the most successful jockeys in Hong Kong.
How much do jockeys earn in Hong Kong?
Besides 10% of all winning prize money, jockeys also get 5% of prize money for placings 2nd through 5th. Riders receive HK$1200 per ride, with owners contributing HK$2200 per trip.
How much is the horse racing industry in Hong Kong?
The horse racing industry in Hong Kong is worth HK$30 billion.
Do mares race in Hong Kong?
In Hong Kong, very few mares or fillies are given a chance. In contrast to Australian horse racing, there are few races for two and three-year-old horses because most horses are imported as proven or strong candidates to become a proven performance.
What is meant by a win strike rate?
The strike rate is the percentage of winning bets a horse has. It’s calculated by dividing the number of wins by the number of times the horse has raced. For example, if a horse has won 3 out of 5 races, its strike rate would be 60%.