Champion Circle and Inner Circle re-open at Sha Tin to take Jockey Club’s world-class racecourse experience to a new level

The Hong Kong Jockey Club today announces the re-opening of two meticulously renovated dining and entertainment venues at Sha Tin Racecourse – Champion Circle and Inner Circle. The upgraded venues will enhance the race-going experience for both local racing fans and overseas visitors, offering unparalleled racecourse catering and entertainment alongside Hong Kong’s world-class racing.

Champion Circle and Inner Circle will reopen in May with a brand-new look, becoming the largest dining and entertainment venue at Sha Tin Racecourse, offering an unparalleled catering and entertainment experience.

The enhanced Inner Circle features sophisticated interiors and a wide variety of seating combinations to cater to customers’ needs.

Located on 3/F of Grandstand I at Sha Tin Racecourse and with a total floor area of 50,000 square feet, the new-look Champion Circle and Inner Circle have been optimised to accommodate a total of almost 1,000 customers. They will offer an exceptional, livelier full day of racing, dining and entertainment for racing enthusiasts and high-end priority card members, respectively.

The enhanced Inner Circle features sophisticated interiors and a wide variety of seating combinations to cater to customers’ needs.

To fully meet customer needs, Champion Circle offers nine seating combinations, accommodating a total of 800 guests.

Sha Tin Racecourse stages major race meetings, welcoming close to one million annual visitations from Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas last season. The venues’ re-opening is perfectly timed, bringing fresh energy and excitement to Sha Tin Racecourse as the city promotes horse racing tourism. Dozens of high-end international tourists will be among the first customers to enjoy the premium experience offered by Inner Circle on the Club’s flagship FWD Champions Day on 27 April, which is also designated as one of the city’s mega events for a second consecutive year. Others will have the chance to enjoy the unique charm of horse racing in the upgraded Champion Circle from early May, when the venue opens to all members of the public.

The enhanced Inner Circle features sophisticated interiors and a wide variety of seating combinations to cater to customers’ needs.

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the Club’s Chief Executive Officer, the reopening of Champion Circle and Inner Circle will help promote horse racing tourism and bring customers an even more pleasant racecourse experience.

Dennis Hau, the Club’s Executive Director, Customer Strategy, Insights and Innovation, said that with customer satisfaction at its heart, the Club is delighted to reopen Champion Circle and Inner Circle. The venues’ meticulous redesign incorporates useful feedback from customer surveys, particularly in terms of ambience, space and catering. “We hope the stylish interior, optimised layout, wide variety of seating combinations, and venue-specific and upgraded catering choices have all the boxes checked, taking our customers’ sporting and social entertainment experience, which is unique to the racecourse, to the next level,” he said.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (centre), Executive Director, Customer Strategy, Insights and Innovation Dennis Hau (left), and Executive Director, Corporate Affairs Raymond Tam (right) congratulate on the reopening of Inner Circle after enhancement.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (centre), Executive Director, Customer Strategy, Insights and Innovation Dennis Hau (left), and Executive Director, Corporate Affairs Raymond Tam (right) congratulate on the reopening of Inner Circle after enhancement.

Customers at the 800-seat Champion Circle will enjoy more spacious seating arrangements in nine combinations, after an almost 50% increase in the space-to-customer ratio. In addition to the longest venue-exclusive balconies on-course, overlooking both the Parade Ring and the tracks, customers will be thrilled with the vibrant new design and cosy vibe. The former a-la-carte menus have been replaced with a variety of tempting cuisine sets available from HK$160.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (centre), Executive Director, Customer Strategy, Insights and Innovation Dennis Hau (right), and Executive Director, Corporate Affairs Raymond Tam (left) are confident the reopened Champion Circle will be well received by customers.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (centre), Executive Director, Customer Strategy, Insights and Innovation Dennis Hau (right), and Executive Director, Corporate Affairs Raymond Tam (left) are confident the reopened Champion Circle will be well received by customers.

In the “Priority Zone”, a new designated Champion Circle area seating 76, HKJC Priority Silver or above customers can enjoy a meal set and afternoon tea set for just HK$200 amid the stunning view and scintillating moments of the races.

A new “Priority Zone” has been launched within Champion Circle, featuring 76 seats exclusively for HKJC Priority Silver or above.

The adjacent Inner Circle is an exclusive and exquisite sanctuary, where exceptional food and great company meet the heart-pounding excitement of the finish line. With its sophisticated interiors and clear view of the racecourse tracks and paddock, HKJC Priority Black and Gold customers will find this popular outlet has also been significantly optimised to accommodate almost double the number of guests, at 82, in comfortable seating. Customers can also enjoy more privacy with an exclusive access inside Inner Circle to a private balcony overlooking the Winning Post. In addition, there is a new private room accommodating eight, which is ideal for intimate gatherings. The premium venue will offer a gourmet international buffet throughout the day at affordable prices.

Along with views of the Sha Tin Racecourse track, Champion Circle and Inner Circle also provide panoramic views of the Parade Ring, enhancing the racing experience.

A private room accommodating eight in Inner Circle is a treasured new addition for HKJC Priority Black and Gold customers who value privacy.

The two venues will be open during all Sha Tin race meetings. Reservations will open from today (25 April) for Champion Circle for 4 May onwards. Bookings Priority Zone by HKJC Silver or above customers, and for Inner Circle by HKJC Priority Black and Gold customers, will commence today for 25 May onwards. Customers can make reservations online at -

Champion Circle: https://www.bookingrc.hkjc.com/onlinebooking/?venueId=100
Priority Zone: https://www.bookingrc.hkjc.com/onlinebooking/?venueId=1062
Inner Circle: https://www.bookingrc.hkjc.com/onlinebooking/?venueId=234

Featured by two 14-metre wide TV walls each larger than a double-decker bus, Champion Circle has more than doubled its number of televisions to almost 400 to keep customers connected to the thrill of racing.

Customers can also make bookings in the HKJC Classic 3-in-1 App or at Off-Course Betting Branches. HKJC Priority customers can earn and burn their WINS Reward in Champion Circle including Priority Zone, and Inner Circle. For enquiries, please call the Club’s Hotline at 1880 (Priority Customers) or 1817 (Public Customers). All racegoers must be aged 18 or above.

The CoolThink@JC programme, initiated and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong yesterday (18 June). Under the MoU, titled “CoolThink@JC × Cambodia Sharing and Exchange Programme”, the ministry will adopt and adapt CoolThink@JC’s internationally recognised curriculum and innovative education model in Cambodian primary schools. It will also foster collaboration through experience sharing between the educational systems of Hong Kong and Cambodia. The aim is to ensure that students from diverse backgrounds have equitable access to quality computational thinking education, thus nurturing future-ready talent for the digital age.

Ms Winnie Ying, Head of Charities (Youth Development & Poverty Alleviation; and Talent & Sector Development), The Hong Kong Jockey Club delivered a speech.

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport plans to introduce CoolThink@JC’s curricular materials and successful experiences in 100 public schools in Cambodia, benefiting approximately 30,000 students and 500 teachers, from 2025 to 2028. By enhancing students' computational thinking and problem-solving skills, the initiativecan help to bridge the digital divide and open a new chapter in the development ofCambodia's education system. As an ASEAN member state participating in the Beltand Road Initiative, Cambodia plans to share this development at international platforms such as the 2026 Global Smart Education Conference in Beijing, further amplifying the programme's impact.

Ms Winnie Ying, Head of Charities (Youth Development & Poverty Alleviation; and Talent & Sector Development), The Hong Kong Jockey Club, and Mr Sok Tha, Director, Department of Digital Transformation, Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport of Cambodia, sign an MOU for the adoption and adaptation of CoolThink@JC’s curriculum and education model in Cambodian primary schools.

By exploring both local and global educational perspectives and exchanging knowledge, educators from Hong Kong and Cambodia will collaborate to create better learning environments for Asian students. Translated teaching materials will also benefit ethnic minority students in Hong Kong, further promoting integrated education.

Signing the MoU on behalf of Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, Mr Sok Tha, Director of the ministry’s Department of Digital Transformation, emphasised the significance of the CoolThink@JC programme in Cambodia's education system during the signing of the MoU. The collaboration with The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust on computational thinking education not only supports the Ministry in enhancing digital education but also aligns with the Royal Government of Cambodia's vision of producing qualified digital human resources. By integrating this program into classrooms, teachers can enhance their professional development, equipping themselves with the necessary skills to effectively incorporate technology into their teaching practices. This advancement benefits both teachers and students, improving student learning outcomes in the digital age. Through workshops and training sessions, teachers can refine their coding, problem-solving, and logical reasoning skills to better guide students. He is confident that implementing the program will enhance students' critical thinking, creativity, and innovation, leading to improved learning outcomes and better preparation for careers, especially in STEM fields and beyond.

Group photo of key guests and representatives of the programme partners Left 1: Ms Marina Chan, Director of MIT Innovation Node Left 2: Professor Kong Siu Cheung, Research Chair Professor of the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology, The Education University of Hong Kong; Chairman of CoolThink@JC Expert Group Left 3: Mr Henry Lin, Chief Curriculum Development officer for Technology Education at the Education Bureau; Left 4: Ms Winnie Ying, Head of Charities (Youth Development & Poverty Alleviation; and Talent & Sector Development), The Hong Kong Jockey Club Right 4: Mr Sok Tha, Director, Department of Digital Transformation, Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport of Cambodia Right 3: Ms Seng Sineth, Deputy Director, Department of Digital Transformation, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of Cambodia Right 2: Dr Enoch Man, Chief Curriculum Development Officer for English at the Education Bureau; Right 1: Mr Daniel Lai, Programme Director of CoolThink@JC.

Ms Winnie Ying, Head of Charities (Youth Development & Poverty Alleviation; and Talent & Sector Development) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, said: “The CoolThink@JC programme has garnered wide international recognition, and its adoption by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia across 100 primary schools is a testament to its success and growing influence on the global stage. We are delighted to witness the establishment of the Association of Computational Thinking InnoCommunity Teachers by a group of passionate CoolThink teachers this year, facilitating experience sharing and professional exchange. Through collaboration and knowledge sharing, we aim to strengthen connections in education between Hong <Kong, ASEAN and One Belt One Road regions, paving the way for high-quality,forward-looking education for the next generation. Together, we can drive innovation in education and shape a brighter future for our youth. The Club thanks the Education Bureau for its support in adopting and adapting CoolThink@JC and mainstreaming it in all publicly funded primary schools in Hong Kong.”

CoolThink@JC: Advancing Computational Thinking Education Worldwide

During his visit to Hong Kong, Mr Sok Tha was invited to join the first two days of the International Conference on Computational Thinking Education as a guest speaker and delivered a speech today (19 June) at the conference. He remarked: “In the post- pandemic era, the demand for digital education has been growing, and Cambodia’s education system is undergoing a critical period of transformation. With comprehensive support from the government and related policies, Cambodia is dedicated to building a resilient, knowledge-based society founded on innovation, science and technology. We aim to comprehensively enhance the quality of education, sports, science and

Mr Sok Tha, Director, Department of Digital Transformation, Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport of Cambodia,delivered a speech at the International Conference on Computational Thinking Education .

CoolThink@JC created the International Conference on Computational Thinking Education (CTE) in 2016. Since 2021, it has provided support for the annual event to be held in different regions, attracting over 2,000 global education scholars, front-line teachers and IT professionals each year. This initiative effectively promotes computational thinking education and drives innovation globally. This year's conference is taking place from 18 to 20 June at The Education University of Hong Kong and Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, respectively.

In 2023, the CoolThink@JC programme was adopted by Hong Kong’s Education Bureau as the foundation for the “Enriched Module on Coding Education for Upper Primary Level” module. The related learning and teaching materials will soon be rolled out in all publicly-funded schools in Hong Kong, supporting teachers to systematically integrate elements of innovation and technology into their curricula. This aims to cultivate students' interest and capability in information technology, while promoting and deepening STEAM education.

Initiated and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust since 2016, the CoolThink@JC programme is co-created by The Education University of Hong Kong, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and City University of Hong Kong, in collaboration with local educators and world-leading scholars. Since its inception, the programme has trained over 1,500 teachers and benefited more than 100,000 students. The programme is committed to mainstreaming computational thinking education into formal curricula, providing teachers with high-quality teaching materials, learning platforms and professional training. The curriculum emphasises problem-solving and logical reasoning skills, guiding students systematically through planning, analysis and debugging thought processes to effectively tackle challenges.