Jockey Club announces plans to become a global sports entertainment brand and to showcase Hong Kong as a centre for global exchange, connectivity and tourism

Today (12 May), The Hong Kong Jockey Club (the Club) announced the launch of a major initiative to transform itself into a global sports entertainment brand with the ultimate aim of creating even more value for the community. In support, the Club has entered into a strategic partnership with XIX Entertainment (XIX), one of the world’s top entertainment brands.

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (left) and Simon Fuller, Founder of XIX Entertainment (right) officiate at the launch ceremony.

Over the past 20 years, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has become a world-class racing brand. Its Group 1 races and superstar horses feature strongly in the world rankings, with two of the world’s best horses currently based in Hong Kong. Some of the world’s best jockeys and trainers are in Hong Kong. The Club’s racing is broadcast to millions of fans across five continents, with 25% of its income now derived from overseas. The Club’s racecourse facilities are second to none. And through its Happy Wednesday brand, which showcases sports with entertainment, and major raceday events featuring international and Hong Kong stars, combining lifestyle and entertainment, the Club has developed a highly attractive racecourse entertainment experience.

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (left) and Simon Fuller, Founder of XIX Entertainment (right) officiate at the launch ceremony.

All of this has enabled the Club to significantly increase its support for the community. In 2023/24 alone, the Club contributed a record HK$40.1 billion in tax and approved charity donations. It has also made racing a highly attractive visitor experience, with over 143,000 tourists visiting the racecourses so far this season. This encouraging tourist attendance owes a great deal to the support for racing tourism in the recent Hong Kong CE Policy Address, and to the efforts of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and the Hong Kong Tourism Board in promoting Hong Kong horse racing globally.  The Club is also grateful for the new strategic collaboration with the China Tourism Group in promoting the Club’s world-class racing sport in the Mainland.

During a dialogue session, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (right) and Simon Fuller, Founder of XIX Entertainment (centre), exchange views on how their partnership can showcase Hong Kong as a centre for global exchange, connectivity and tourism.

Now the Club’s vision is to go one step further - to become a global sports entertainment brand. In other words to create a holistically integrated racing, equestrian sports and entertainment experience, which will enable the Club to expand its fan base, especially to the younger generation, and to reach out to a global and Mainland audience. Ultimately the aim is to become the premier destination for global horse racing and equestrian sports.

This, the Club believes, perfectly matches Hong Kong’s aspiration to become a hub for international exchanges and cooperation, as well as a centre for international cultural exchange as outlined in the National 14th Five-Year Plan. It will also enable the Club to contribute even more to the betterment of society.

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (7th left); Simon Fuller, Founder of XIX Entertainment (6th right); Club management and other guests pose for a group photo at the ceremony.

As a first step, the Club is delighted to partner with XIX under the leadership of its visionary founder, Simon Fuller. The first collaboration will bring XIX’s global pop group, Now United, to Hong Kong. The first initiative, Now United, will give Hong Kong’s talent a chance to shine on the world stage, while through social media and racecourse performances the group will share positive stories about Hong Kong and Hong Kong racing with their millions of fans around the world.

Now United is the world’s first global pop group. With 19 performers from around the globe, they have a mission to bring music and dance to the world.

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of The Hong Kong Jockey Club said he was excited to announce the Club’s plans to become a globally recognised sports entertainment brand, which will enable the Club to contribute even more to Hong Kong. Holistically integrating entertainment, racing and equestrian sport, at its heart will be a celebration of the strong bonding between horses and humans. This, he said, perfectly matches Hong Kong's aspiration to expand its global connectivity. Finally, looking ahead to the Year of the Horse in 2026, it is the perfect moment to use entertainment, lifestyle and social content to foster new connections and promote passion around the horse - heritage, power, elegance and emotion brought to life.

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of The Hong Kong Jockey Club announces the strategic partnership between the Club and XIX Entertainment.

Simon Fuller, the British-born Founder of XIX, said “I am excited to be collaborating with Hong Kong and the Jockey Club to create something aspirational and positive. I believe there is an important opportunity to bring inspiring and joyful entertainment to Hong Kong and Horse Racing. This is an incredible city full of potential with so many stunning iconic locations to share with the world.” He added, “my global pop group Now United being here in Hong Kong is the beginning of many more exciting announcements in the coming months, leading to celebrating the year of the horse.”

Now United is the world’s first global pop group. With 19 performers from around the globe, they have a mission to bring music and dance to the world.

Now United is XIX’s multi-cultural global pop group, featuring young musical and dance talent from across the world. The collaboration with the Club will see a talent search in Hong Kong for the next member of the group. The finalist will receive masterclass training from top-class professionals at XIX Entertainment’s Academy of Pop. There will also be a reality series and music videos filmed with Now United during their stay in Hong Kong, to be shared with their 40 million social media followers across multiple platforms around the world.  Hong Kong audiences will also have the opportunity to enjoy Now United’s live performances at the Club’s racecourses and at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races in December 2025.

The search for the next member of Now Unitedin Hong Kong will begin with auditions for people aged 18 or above starting from today (12 May). For application details, please visit https://nowunited.com/newmember/index_en.php.

The flagship event of The Hong Kong Jockey Club ICH+ Innovative Heritage Education Programme - “ICH+ Festival 2025/26” opened today (27 June) at the Jao Tsung-I Academy in Lai Chi Kok. Spanning over two weeks, the event adopts innovative approaches to blend traditional and contemporary elements, offering a wide range of activities including a series of exhibitions, interactive games, traditional craft workshops, and thematic sharing sessions fusing tradition with innovation.

Highlights of the Jockey Club ICH+ Innovative Heritage Education Programme – ICH+Festival 2025/26.

Funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the programme is a collaboration between Lingnan University and Hong Kong Arts Centre. It aims to preserve, promote, redefine and revitalise Hong Kong’s rich and diverse ICH by offering a fresh perspective, while deepening public appreciation and understanding of its cultural value across the community.

Guests tour the Jockey Club ICH+ Innovative Heritage Education Programme – ICH+ Festival 2025/26.

Officiating at the festival’s opening ceremony were Choi Yuk-lin, Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government; Ann Kung, Club Steward; Lau Chi-pang, Special Advisor to President on Publicity cum Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Lingnan University; and Peter Lau, Chairman of the Board of Governors at Hong Kong Arts Centre.

Choi Yuk-lin, Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government (2nd right); Ann Kung, Club Steward (2nd left); Lau Chi-pang, Special Advisor to President on Publicity cum Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Lingnan University (1st right); and Peter Lau, Chairman of the Board of Governors at Hong Kong Arts Centre (1st left) officiating at the Jockey Club ICH+ Innovative Heritage Education Programme – ICH+ Festival 2025/26 opening ceremony.

Club Steward Ann Kung remarked that the Club has supported the Jockey Club ICH+ Innovative Heritage Education Programme since 2018. She highlighted it provides a wide range of activities through cross-sector collaboration, enabling the public – especially younger generations – to learn about, experience and practise traditional craftsmanship, foster cultural identity and carry forward the spirit of artisanship, injecting new momentum into the sustainable development and transmission of intangible cultural heritage.

Club Steward Ann Kung delivers a speech at the opening ceremony.

The programme has run activities at more than 600 secondary and primary schools, reached 30,000 students and 78 students of the professional ICH training programme to date, attracting public participation through exhibitions and community events, while the continued cultivation of a new generation of “ICH ambassadors” will further drive community engagement and awareness.

Highlights of the Jockey Club ICH+ Innovative Heritage Education Programme – ICH+ Festival 2025/26.

The Club has long promoted the development of arts, culture and heritage to enrich community life. In addition to supporting traditional festivals on the national ICH list – including the Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade, Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance and the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival – the Club is also the sole sponsor of a series of programmes under ICH Month 2026. Among the highlight was The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: “Journey of the Horse: A Legacy of Arts and Culture” Light Show, held earlier as one of the signature events of the Club’s Year of the Horse initiatives. Since 2010, the Trust has donated more than HK$167 million to support ICH events and related educational programmes. These initiatives align with the HKSAR Government’s Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0 and the National 15th Five-Year Plan, contributing to the further development of Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.

Highlights of the Jockey Club ICH+ Innovative Heritage Education Programme – ICH+ Festival 2025/26.

The Club’s support for the Jockey Club ICH+ Innovative Heritage Education Programme, like all its charity and community donations, is made possible by its unique integrated business model through which racing and responsible sports wagering generate substantial tax contributions, charity support and employment opportunities for Hong Kong.

Group photo.