Hong Kong Jockey Club to hold first race meeting at new mainland China racecourse in October 2026
Summary
The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) will stage the inaugural race meeting at its Conghua Racecourse in Guangdong Province on 31 October 2026, with five or six races planned for the initial event, CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said. The venue, built on the former 2010 Asian Games equestrian site, is a world-class training, stabling and racing facility covering about 150 hectares — roughly twice the size of Hong Kong’s Sha Tin. The opening was pushed back from April 2026 to allow finishing works. A second meeting at the end of November 2026 is likely to be the first event aimed at the general public, while the HKJC will await China’s next five-year National Equine Industry Plan, expected in March 2026, before finalising the longer-term schedule of meetings.
Key Points
- Initial race meeting set for 31 October 2026 with five or six races, according to HKJC CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.
- Conghua Racecourse is located on the former 2010 Asian Games equestrian facility in Guangdong and spans around 150 hectares.
- The project was delayed from April 2026 to ensure construction and finishing works are complete.
- China’s forthcoming National Equine Industry Plan (expected March 2026) will guide the number and frequency of meetings at Conghua.
- A small invited-guest opening will be followed by a public launch meeting at the end of November 2026.
- Conghua already supported 37% of HKJC runners last season, reflecting its role in addressing space constraints in Hong Kong.
Why should I read this?
Because if you follow racing, betting markets or HKJC strategy, this is a biggie — HKJC is exporting regular, world-class racing onto the mainland. It changes where races are run, where horses train and potentially who turns up to bet and spectate. Quick read, big implications.
Author style
Punchy: This is a milestone for the HKJC and for mainland Chinese racing. The first meeting marks a tangible shift in the region’s racing footprint — worth paying attention to if you track industry growth, regulation or betting liquidity.
Context and relevance
Conghua’s opening addresses capacity limits in Hong Kong while expanding mainland China’s racing infrastructure. The timing is tied to national policy: the HKJC is waiting for China’s next five-year National Equine Industry Plan (due March 2026) before confirming the full racing calendar. Expect consequences for training patterns, quarantine logistics, race scheduling and betting markets across Hong Kong and the mainland as Conghua moves from a training base to a public race venue.
