The Hong Kong Jockey Club has unveiled the latest aspect of its HK$14 billion racecourse master plan, with the Champions Connection and Genso Eki facilities designed to make Sha Tin and even more appealing racing tourism destination.
Sunday’s opening meeting will see what the Jockey Club has described as “a game-changing racecourse arrival and customer experience at Grandstand II”.
The Champions Connection will connect arriving visitors with an immersive digital environment inspired by horse and nature, while Gensō Eki will provide digital horse racing experiences in an dining and digital entertainment venue.
The club says both are designed to further promote horse racing and the racecourse, particularly to a younger generation.
“We strive to make our racing and vibrant racecourse entertainment an iconic attraction to the local people and visitors from the Mainland and overseas,” chief executive officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said.
“The club has invested more than HK$10 billion into a multi-year Racecourse Master Plan to systematically revitalise Sha Tin and Happy Valley racecourses. It is our plan to invest another HK$4 billion in the next phase to transform our racecourses."
Engelbrecht-Bresges said the club had transformed racecourses from places of "hardcore gambling" into tourism destinations.
“In addition, we have continued to ramp up our trackside entertainments as we believe that the best way to attract and retain the loyalty of fans is through the live race-going experience,” he said.
“In the last racing season, we welcomed more than 1.7 million racegoers, including over 195,000 Mainland visitors. A significant number are from the younger generation, who admire horse racing and are eager to learn more through digital and interactive experiences at the racecourses."
Engelbrecht-Bresges said other initiatives underway include the ongoing renovation of Penfold Park and the addition of a new attraction, Pony World.
“Pony World will offer educational activities and foster a culture of horse appreciation,” he said.