Happy Valley Racecourse
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Happy Valley Racecourse at night |
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Happy Valley Racecourse in 1873 |
Happy Valley Horse Racing Track (快活谷馬場 or 跑馬地馬場) is one of the two
racecourses for
horse racing in
Hong Kong. It is located in
Happy Valley on
Hong Kong Island, surrounded by
Wong Nai Chung Road and
Morrison Hill Road.
It was first built in
1845 to provide horse racing for the British people in Hong Kong. Before it was built, the area was a swampland, but also the only flat ground suitable for horse racing on Hong Kong Island. To make way for the racecourse,
Hong Kong Government prohibited rice growing by villages in the surrounding area. The first race ran in December
1846. Over the years, horse racing became more and more popular among the Chinese residents.
On
26 February,
1918, there was a tragic fire and at least 590 people died. It is the fire with the highest casualties in Hong Kong history.
The track was rebuilt in
1995, and became a world-class horse racing facility. Several
football,
hockey and
rugby fields are encircled by the horseracing track.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Archive and Museum (or Hong Kong Racing Museum) was set up in 1995 and opened on 18 October 1996
[The Hong Kong Jockey Club Archive and Museum]. It is now located on the second floor of the Happy Valley Stand of the racecourse.
There are four galleries in the museum:
* The Origin of Our Horses: Shows the migration route horses travelled in the early days from the northern part of China to Hong Kong.
* Shaping Sha Tin: Exhibits the history of construction of
Sha Tin Racecourse.
* Understanding Horses: Exhibits the skeleton of the three-time Hong Kong Champion
Silver Lining'
* Thematic Exhibitions: The history of the Jockey Club is exhibited. Selected charitable organizations and community projects supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust are also displayed in this gallery.
There is also a cinema and a souvenir shop in the museum.
*
Hong Kong Jockey Club*
Sha Tin Racecourse*
List of Hong Kong-related topicsExternal links
*
Details on Hong Kong Tourism Board website*
Details on Hong Kong Jockey Club website*
Details on LCSD website
