The Hong Kong Jockey Club (the Club) will launch the 2025/2026 racing season on 7 September with a game-changing racecourse arrival and customer experience at Grandstand II, Sha Tin Racecourse. 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 immersive dining and digital entertainment venue. Both will further promote horse racing and the racecourse as a must-go experience for both locals and tourists, particularly the younger generation.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges remarks that the Club has invested more than HK$10 billion to develop our racecourses into world-class sport and entertainment centres. The Club plans to invest another HK$4 billion in the next phase to further transform the racecourses to a destination which attracts Hong Kong, Mainland and overseas customers.
The Club’s Chief Executive Officer, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said: “The Club is a world-class sport and entertainment organisation. We strive to make our racing and vibrant racecourse entertainment an iconic attraction to the local people and visitors from the Mainland and overseas. 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. This is a key enabler of the Club’s vision to develop our racecourses into world-class sport and entertainment centres. By upgrading, altering and re-building our venues at the racecourses, we have transformed them from one for ‘hardcore gambling’ to a destination which attracts Hong Kong, Mainland and overseas customers to enjoy a platinum race-going experience with our world-class sport and live entertainment.
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The Hong Kong Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges remarks that the Club has invested more than HK$10 billion to develop our racecourses into world-class sport and entertainment centres. The Club plans to invest another HK$4 billion in the next phase to further transform the racecourses to a destination which attracts Hong Kong, Mainland and overseas customers.
Saying hello to a lifelike steed: (from left to right) The Hong Kong Jockey Club Executive Director, Customer Strategy, Insights and Innovation Dennis Hau; Executive Director, Racing Andrew Harding; Executive Director, Corporate Affairs Raymond Tam; Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges; and Director of Property Philip Chen stand with the Champions Connection robotic horse for a Instagrammable moment.
Saying hello to a lifelike steed: (from left to right) The Hong Kong Jockey Club Executive Director, Customer Strategy, Insights and Innovation Dennis Hau; Executive Director, Racing Andrew Harding; Executive Director, Corporate Affairs Raymond Tam; Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges; and Director of Property Philip Chen stand with the Champions Connection robotic horse for a Instagrammable moment.
Who wants a treat? A 3D digital version of Golden Sixty at Champions Connection greets The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges poses with the “mechanical galloping horse sculpture” by an American artist at the Champions Connection, an impressive sight to draw crowds.
The Club embraces next-gen AI tech: (from left to right) The Hong Kong Jockey Club Executive Director, Racing Andrew Harding; Club Executive Director, Customer Strategy, Insights and Innovation Dennis Hau; Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges; Executive Director, Corporate Affairs Raymond Tam; and Director of Property Philip Chen showcase the Gensō Eki digital parade ring.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (centre), Executive Director, Customer Strategy, Insights and Innovation Dennis Hau (2nd left), Executive Director, Corporate Affairs Raymond Tam (2nd right), Executive Director, Racing Andrew Harding (1st left), and Director of Property Philip Chen (1st right) celebrate the soon opening of Champions Connection.
Such artistry: Horseshoes and farriers are key to Hong Kong racing. The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (right) and Executive Director, Customer Strategy, Insights and Innovation Dennis Hau pose in front of horseshoe sculptures by the Club’s farriers in Gensō Eki.
“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. We are pleased to see our racing and racecourse entertainment has been gaining increasing popularity in the Mainland and overseas. 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.
Saying hello to a lifelike steed: (from left to right) The Hong Kong Jockey Club Executive Director, Customer Strategy, Insights and Innovation Dennis Hau; Executive Director, Racing Andrew Harding; Executive Director, Corporate Affairs Raymond Tam; Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges; and Director of Property Philip Chen stand with the Champions Connection robotic horse for a Instagrammable moment.
“Champions Connection and Gensō Eki, with their cutting-edge digital technology and vibrant, modern settings, will redefine the arrival and racecourse experience for racegoers, particularly the younger generation, cultivating a greater interest in the sport of horse racing. We look forward to seeing these new attractions make a big contribution to racing tourism, an important pillar of Hong Kong’s tourism development with significant economic and social value.”
Engelbrecht-Bresges added: “Another exciting initiative underway is the ongoing renovation of Penfold Park. In January 2026, the park will have all enhancement works completed and fully reopen, followed by the addition of a new attraction, Pony World, in April. The connectivity with Grandstand II will also be improved later. Designed to strengthen Penfold Park’s appeal as a family-friendly destination for both Hongkongers and tourists, Pony World will offer educational activities and foster a culture of horse appreciation. Access to Penfold Park will initially be limited to non-race days, while the Club is formulating appropriate safeguards that would allow entry on racedays while maintaining a strict separation from any wagering activities.”
Saying hello to a lifelike steed: (from left to right) The Hong Kong Jockey Club Executive Director, Customer Strategy, Insights and Innovation Dennis Hau; Executive Director, Racing Andrew Harding; Executive Director, Corporate Affairs Raymond Tam; Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges; and Director of Property Philip Chen stand with the Champions Connection robotic horse for a Instagrammable moment.
Champions Connection: an arrival hub connecting visitors with racing
As the gateway between the MTR’s Racecourse Station and Grandstand II, Champions Connection welcomes racegoers with an upgraded arrival experience. This immersive transition space is designed to spark curiosity and a sense of discovery - all centred around Hong Kong’s world-class racing as the pinnacle of sports entertainment - before experiencing the racing action.
Champions Connection will greet visitors with a hallway of digitally rendered thoroughbred horses on columns along the second and third floors, depicted in natural habitats in different seasons. Further along is a hall of fame with 3D digital displays of six legendary racehorses (including three-time Horse of the Year Golden Sixty) in virtual stables, eager to interact with visitors. Opposite are showcases of six elite jockeys, with personalised racing gear mirroring their real-life lockers. Visitors can learn more about the achievements of the horses and jockeys from wall plaques or QR codes. For an even more fun and engaging horse education experience, a specially commissioned mobile horse sculpture on the 2nd floor and the city’s first-ever life-like, full-sized robotic horse on the 4/F awaits racegoers for instagrammable photo-taking.
Who wants a treat? A 3D digital version of Golden Sixty at Champions Connection greets The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.
The 2nd and 3rd floors also highlight other aspects of Hong Kong’s city culture. Pop-up kiosks featuring popular local brands offer food and beverages, retail and DIY workshops by NGOs, promoting racing entertainment, sustainability and the betterment of society. In addition to their memorable raceday experiences, visitors can purchase horse-themed merchandise to take home.
The Club’s Director of Property, Philip Chen, said: “As a second Sha Tin Racecourse Entrance Hub, Champions Connection will ignite arriving visitors’ curiosity and sense of discovery. With the space’s advanced equine digital integrations and the range of pop-up kiosks on site, we will deepen visitors’ understanding of thoroughbred horses and their appreciation of Hong Kong racing in a refreshing and exciting way.”
The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges poses with the “mechanical galloping horse sculpture” by an American artist at the Champions Connection, an impressive sight to draw crowds.
Gensō Eki: a pioneering four-storey digital horse racing hub
Champions Connection will link visitors to a series of venues in Grandstand II, including Gensō Eki, a new four-storey, must-visit destination for sports, entertainment and dining, which redefines the Hong Kong racing experience for today’s audiences. With a modern and inviting design, Gensō Eki offers immersive digital racing experiences and gamified learning and activities that combine physical and digital entertainment, all designed to engage the new generation of racing fans as well as tourists from the Mainland and overseas.
Dennis Hau, the Club’s Executive Director, Customer Strategy, Insights and Innovation, said: “Gensō Eki’s name reflects how the venue is a place beyond the imagination (Gensō) where lives interconnect (Eki). Interacting with its facilities and activities cultivates an interest in horse racing as a sport and entertainment for the social media generation through engaging digital racing experiences that demand to be shared. This unprecedented four-storey digital horse racing hub will be a game-changer, providing a one-stop racecourse experience for the younger generation of racing fans and tourists.”
The Club embraces next-gen AI tech: (from left to right) The Hong Kong Jockey Club Executive Director, Racing Andrew Harding; Club Executive Director, Customer Strategy, Insights and Innovation Dennis Hau; Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges; Executive Director, Corporate Affairs Raymond Tam; and Director of Property Philip Chen showcase the Gensō Eki digital parade ring.
On the top floor, 4M/F, challenges and discoveries await in the “Maze Race”, an engaging, interactive journey where customers can learn about the history of horse racing and its legends by solving racing-related puzzles. There is also the “Gensōverse”, where visitors can take a virtual ride on one of Hong Kong’s legendary horses via Extended Reality (XR) technology, and create videos of the experience to share on social media.
Gensō Eki encourages sharing the joy of racing with the online world. GensōSnap, for example, is located in Gensō Eki’s social engagement area to provide unique Instagrammable moments. The AI photo booth allows visitors to take racing-themed selfies, perfect for posting to friends and loved ones. This ethos of creating sharable moments is found across Gensō Eki, be it in digital connectivity or its interior design, including prominent horseshoe art pieces handcrafted by the Club’s farriers on display in the Gensō Isle racetrack viewing area.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (centre), Executive Director, Customer Strategy, Insights and Innovation Dennis Hau (2nd left), Executive Director, Corporate Affairs Raymond Tam (2nd right), Executive Director, Racing Andrew Harding (1st left), and Director of Property Philip Chen (1st right) celebrate the soon opening of Champions Connection.
Visitors can also enjoy Gensō Eki’s two dining spots – either in the relaxed vibe of its Fudo Town food hall with a wide variety of options on 3/F, or the more intimate sit-down dining setting of the Izakaya restaurant on 4/F. Both venues provide the high-quality catering the Club’s eateries are known for and is expected by Hong Kong’s diners.
Gensō Eki builds on the digital enhancements to the racing experience introduced last season at The Beat and Vantage at Happy Valley Racecourse. These include a Digital Parade Ring featuring full-sized horses on 3/F and three Interactive AI Horse Selection Stations showcasing horse racing data in stunning visuals in real time with a new feature of Race Simulator generating a virtual race with simulated results. These innovations render horse racing even more accessible and friendly to new racing fans, offering an unparalleled level of interactivity with the sport.
Such artistry: Horseshoes and farriers are key to Hong Kong racing. The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (right) and Executive Director, Customer Strategy, Insights and Innovation Dennis Hau pose in front of horseshoe sculptures by the Club’s farriers in Gensō Eki.
Expanding appeal for visitors and younger generation
The opening of the new venues coincides with new initiatives to attract visitors, including the younger generation, to the Club’s racecourses.
On 11 September, the Club will launch a tourist-friendly “Hong Kong Racecourse” WeChat mini programme, which will guide visitors to and around the Club’s venues and identify points of personal interest. Tourists can easily plan their visit with tailored itinerary recommendations, dining and attractions within the racecourses. It also features a static map pointing out must-see places of interest and key racecourse venues. This one-stop hub will also provide racing fixtures and news updates.
Other tourist-friendly measures for Mainland visitors include the roll-out of a Simplified Chinese version of the entire “Racecourse Experience” page on the Club’s website to provide a more welcoming user experience.
In addition, a suite of digital enhancements designed to elevate customers’ wagering experience on the Club’s Classic 3-in-1 app and details will be announced soon.
