Content Writer: Janice Chew • Monday, 25/11/2025 - 17:36:23 - PM
The HKJC has confirmed that its new facility, Conghua Racecourse in Guangdong Province, Mainland China, will host its first official race meeting on 31 October 2026, featuring an initial card of “five or six” races. Previously, the launch had been scheduled for April 2026 but was delayed to ensure full completion of construction and alignment with evolving national policy.
The facility spans around 150 hectares — over twice the size of HKJC’s Hong Kong facility at Sha Tin Racecourse — and includes training tracks, stables, quarantine areas and spectator stands. The venue has already been used to some extent for training: about 37% of HKJC-runners last season used Conghua for preparation.
HKJC Chief Executive Winfried Engelbrecht‑Bresges noted that the first meeting will likely be for invited guests only, with a broader public launch scheduled for end-November 2026. He also referenced China’s upcoming five-year National Equine Industry Plan (expected March 2026) as important in defining the long-term racing and breeding industry direction.
The move signifies HKJC’s ambition to expand its operations beyond Hong Kong, tapping into the Mainland market while integrating the Greater Bay Area’s sports, leisure and tourism strategy. HKJC’s August 2025 corporate release said the October 2026 launch at Conghua will mark a “new era of world-class sport and entertainment”.