While staying in Hong Kong, I had the pleasure to take part in the long-established tradition of attending races at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. This non-profit organization of horse-racing and gambling was founded in 1884, and has been growing ever since. The club presents 700 races every year, and even played host to the equestrian events of the 2008 Summer Olympics based in Beijing.

The races are easily accessible by mass transit, and I made my way to the Sha Tin venue by metro. To accommodate the crowds, there is a separate separate section of the metro line that opens up on Sundays and Wednesdays.


It costs $10 Hong Kong Dollars (a little over $1 USD) to get into the race facility, and while it is possible to gamble away large amounts of money once you have entered, it is also possible to spend very little. As someone who knows only a little about horses, and even less about gambling, I decided to stick with $10 HKD bets. On race days there are seven events, spaced out by about a half hour. Between races you can grab a snack from the concessions area, or watch the horses in the "parade ring". Here, as the horses walk proudly around the small arena with their handlers, you can join the gang of the anxious gamblers scrutinizing the horses for winning qualities.


There are all sorts of betting combinations and possibilities, but even I was able to figure out how to put money on one race for one horse to "place". In this way you win if the horse that you picked places in the top three or four of the pack. Call it beginner's luck, but while watching my third race I picked well and my horse won! Based on my meager betting I only had small gains, but even that was as exhilarating as if I had won much more.


The Sunday afternoon I spent at the Sha Tin track was relaxing despite the frenetic atmosphere of races and betting, and granted me a window into the lives of many Hong Kong citizens. While I'm not sure that I would revisit the tracks frequently, it was a fun one-time outing. Shortly after my trip to the races we left Hong Kong for mainland China. We have since traveled to Shanghai and Tai'an, and will spend the next few days touring the sights of Beijing.