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Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club

The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Non-profit organisation
Industry Charity
Founded 1884
Headquarters Hong Kong
Key people

Dr. Simon S O Ip, Chairman


Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO
Products Betting, lottery, sports
Website www.hkjc.com/home/chinese/index.asp
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Traditional Chinese 香港賽馬會
Simplified Chinese 香港赛马会
The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club
Traditional Chinese 英皇御准香港賽馬會
Simplified Chinese 英皇御准香港赛马会

Dr. Simon S O Ip, Chairman

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC, Chinese name: ) is one of the oldest institutions in Hong Kong. Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a horse racing operator and Hong Kong's largest community benefactor, operating as a not-for-profit organisation. In 1959 it was granted a Royal Charter and renamed "The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club" (英皇御准香港賽馬會). The name of the institution was reverted to its original name in 1996 due to the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong in 1997. Membership of the club is by nomination and election only.

It is a non-profit organisation providing horse racing, sporting and betting entertainment in Hong Kong. It holds a government-granted monopoly in providing pari-mutuel betting on horse racing, the Mark Six lottery, and fixed odds betting on overseas football events. The organisation is the largest taxpayer in Hong Kong, as well as the largest community benefactor. The HK Jockey Charities Trust donated a record HK$3.6 billion in 2014 to support the different needs of the society and contribute to the betterment of Hong Kong. The Club also proactively identifies, funds and develops projects which anticipate and address social issues and pressing needs in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Jockey Club also provides dining, social, sport and recreation facilities to its approximately 23,000 members.

Founded in 1884 as an amateur body to promote horse racing, it was an exclusive club whose membership was drawn from the upper class with strict rules of membership, with women and people of unsuitable background being banned. This led to the fact that the club had no Chinese members till the 20th century.

The Club evolved into a professional institution from 1971. The Club organised the annual races which took place around Chinese New Year, and was initially financed by commissions on bets which were placed through private clubs.


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