HKJC Horse Race Betting Limited announces the following changes in bet types for the coming season to more closely satisfy customers' * demand.
One consolation dividend for Triple Trio :
Starting from 9 September 2007, the first race day of the 2007/08 racing season, a single consolation dividend will be offered for the Triple Trio. Customers who correctly select the first three placed horses, regardless of their finishing order, in the 1st and 2nd Legs of the Triple Trio nominated races in a race meeting will be eligible for a consolation dividend.
Higher dividend value for Triple Trio and consolation dividends :
Under the new structure, the percentage allocations for the Triple Trio and consolation dividends will be adjusted to offer higher dividend value. After the Triple Trio Jackpot Reserve deduction is made from the available fund for dividends, 85% of the remainder will be allocated to the Triple Trio dividend and 15% will be assigned as consolation dividend.
Triple Trio Jackpot Reserve to be increased :
The deduction rate for the Triple Trio Jackpot Reserve will be increased to 10% to offer customers more Triple Trio jackpot top-up opportunities.
$10 million Triple Trio dividend for season opening meeting :
HKJC Horse Race Betting Limited will be topping up the Triple Trio jackpot with the Triple Trio Jackpot Reserve for Sunday's season opening race meeting. If there is only a single $10 winning unit for the pool, the payout is estimated to reach $10 million, the first grand prize for the new season.
Bracket Win (Horse No.) to be withdrawn :
Starting from 9 September 2007, the first race day for the 2007/08 racing season, bet type Bracket Win (Horse No.) will be withdrawn.
* Customers must be aged 18 and above
Senior Club Officials brief Trainers at pre-season meeting
Senior Club Officials met with Hong Kong's racehorse Trainers at their annual pre-season gathering this morning at Sha Tin for an update on a number of issues relevant to the new campaign.
Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the Club's Chief Executive Officer, wished the Trainers every success in 2007/08 and said their performance would enjoy greater visibility now that Hong Kong racing will be simulcast across the United States from this Sunday's first meeting, thereby establishing the world's largest commingled betting pools on horseracing.
Echoing these sentiments, Executive Director, Racing, Mr William A Nader added that the Club wished to build on the momentum created by last term's upswing in betting turnover and attendance and he called on the trainers to co-operate closely with the Club's management to achieve this end.
As regards racing operations, the process of weighing horses on raceday shall be discontinued from the start of the new season. As such, horses' weights will only be recorded on declaration day or on Friday in case of a Sunday meeting.
"It was a tough decision, but we had lengthy consultations with all the relevant people and in the interests of both the horses and the sport, our conclusion was that the risks outweighed the benefits," Mr Nader said.
"The difference between the weights on declaration is typically less than 12lbs and given the stress that it was causing several horses - also resulting in late scratchings - we felt it best to stick solely to the declaration day weights."
Chief Stipendiary Steward, Mr Jamie Stier, reiterated the change in the policy in announcing riding instructions and called on trainers to ensure their horses perform as consistently as possible.
Horses that have suffered bleeding attacks would henceforth be barred from the main training facilities for one month instead of two months as in the past. This, Mr Stier said, was to reduce the amount of downtime faced by horses before preparing for their return to the track. The three-month ban on first time bleeders would remain in place.
Mr Stier also said horses diagnosed for the first time with a post-race heart irregularity will be forced to barrier trial and undergo an official veterinary examination before its next start. A second diagnosis of a heart irregularity would entail a six-month ban and third finding would mean compulsory retirement.
Mr John Ridley, Head of Racing Operations, discussed trackwork and stabling arrangements and said the new bridle path at Sha Tin would open next Monday, September 10, to enable horses to switch off and relax during trackwork hours.
The heads of both the Club's Regulatory and Clinical Veterinary Services - Dr Brian Stewart and Dr Christopher Riggs - also briefed those present. Dr Stewart offered an update of the Equine Influenza outbreak in Australia and Japan.
Mr Nigel Gray, Head of Handicapping and Race Planning, rounded off the meeting by stipulating a revised closing time for entries of 10am from 11am as previous so that racing fans can source the information earlier.
