Jockey Club’s redeveloped Pokfulam Public Riding School provides new and upgraded facilities for equestrian sport

The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Pokfulam Public Riding School, which has served the community for over 40 years, was officially reopened today (16 October) following its comprehensive redevelopment. The upgraded riding school, with expanded stables and new facilities including an all-weather indoor sand arena, will provide a high-quality environment to further promote equestrian sport as well as provide equine therapy for people with disabilities.

Guests including Fletch Chan, Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare (Acting) (3rd right); The Hon Martin Liao, Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Public Riding School Limited (middle); Dr Simon Ip, Club Public Riding Schools Limited Independent Non-executive Director (2nd left); Thomas Yeung, Chairman of the Riding for the Disabled Association (2nd right); Professor Frederick Ho, Chairman of the Hong Kong PHAB Association (3rd left); and Amanda Bond, Head of Equestrian Affairs of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (1st right) tour the HKJC Pokfulam Public Riding School.

Officiating at the opening ceremony were Fletch Chan, Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare (Acting); The Hon Martin Liao, Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Public Riding School Limited; Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and Director of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Public Riding School Limited; Thomas Yeung, Chairman of the Riding for the Disabled Association; Professor Frederick Ho, Chairman of the Hong Kong PHAB Association and Natasha Tse, Hong Kong, China representative at four consecutive Paralympic Games. 

Attending the opening ceremony of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Pokfulam Public Riding School were Fletch Chan, Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare (Acting) (3rd left); The Hon Martin Liao, Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Public Riding School Limited (3rd right); Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and Director of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Public Riding School Limited (2nd left); Thomas Yeung, Chairman of the Riding for the Disabled Association (1st left); Professor Frederick Ho, Chairman of the Hong Kong PHAB Association (2nd right) and Natasha Tse, Hong Kong, China representative at four consecutive Paralympic Games (1st right).

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Club Chairman and Club Public Riding School Limited Chairman The Hon Martin Liao said: “The redeveloped Pokfulam Public Riding School provides a modern and high-quality environment for the public to engage with horses and learn riding, all of which will help further popularise equestrian sport in the community. It will also nurture youth talent through the HKJC Youth Equestrian Development Programme, aiming to develop the elite athletes of the future.”

The Hon Martin Liao, Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Public Riding School Limited said the redeveloped Pokfulam Public Riding School provides a modern and high-quality learning environment to further promote equestrian sport.

The Club operates three public riding schools, with an overall usage of approximately 60,000 visits per year. Pokfulam Public Riding School was established by the Club in 1978 and provides opportunities for the community to interact with horses and learn to ride. Redevelopment of the Pokfulam Public Riding School commenced in 2022, supported by a donation of HK$375 million from the Club’s Charities Trust.

The Club’s Pokfulam Public Riding School was established in 1978. The redeveloped school commenced trial operations in September.

The redeveloped Pokfulam Public Riding School features new and upgraded facilities, including additional stables capacity, taking the total to 38 horse stalls, a new indoor arena and new equine simulators. These improvements ensure both riders and horses are protected from the weather, as well as allowing for more flexible class scheduling. A broader range of programmes are also now available, including the addition of stable tours, providing the public with more opportunities to learn about horses.

The expanded stables provide 38 air-conditioned horse stalls.

The new indoor arena at the HKJC Pokfulam Public Riding School provides riding lessons for the public, professional riders and para riders.

The new indoor arena at the HKJC Pokfulam Public Riding School provides riding lessons for the public, professional riders and para riders.

The upgraded riding school also provides enhanced accessibility and safety features to support disable riders, including training and equine therapy provided by the Riding for the Disabled Association. Like the Club’s other riding schools, Pokfulam Public Riding School is also home to retired racehorses, which have been retrained through the Club’s RESTART Racehorse Aftercare Programme to provide riding lessons in their post-racing career.  

Amanda Bond, Head of Equestrian Affairs of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (1st left), Bee Chan, Senior Manager, Equestrian (Public Riding School) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (1st right), Natasha Tse, Hong Kong, China representative at four consecutive Paralympic Games (2nd right); The Hong Kong Jockey Club Youth Squad members Annabel Zhao (middle) and Anya Law (2nd left) pose a photo.

The Club is a long-standing supporter of equestrian sport through its public riding schools and the HKJC Equestrian Team, established after the Beijing 2008 Olympics to develop elite riders in Hong Kong. In 2016, the Club, in collaboration with the Equestrian Federation of Hong Kong, China launched the Hong Kong Equestrian Performance Plan (HKEPP) to provide high-level coaching and professional support to equestrian riders. In 2017, the HKEPP was extended to include para equestrian riders. In 2019, the HKJC Youth Equestrian Development Programme was introduced in collaboration with the Club, the EFHKC and the Hong Kong Sports Institute to nurture future talent. In 2022, the programme was further expanded with the addition of the Youth Squad (Mainland), supporting young, talented Hong Kong athletes based full-time in the Chinese Mainland.

Group photo

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (the Club), as the sole Partner Sponsor of the Hong Kong Competition Region of this year’s National Games, today (24 November) announced cash incentives to support HKSAR athletes competing in the upcoming 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities.

The flag presentation ceremony for the HKSAR delegation to the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NGD & NSOG) was held at Tiu Keng Leng Sports Centre today. Attending guests included: HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Sun Shang-wu; HKSAR Government Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law; China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee President Jenny Fung; President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China Timothy Fok; and Deputy Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Lester Huang.

The upcoming NGD & NSOG will cover 46 sports, including the NGD & NSOG The Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy Wheelchair Fencing Competition and the NGD & NSOG The Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy Para Table Tennis (T11) Competition, which will be held in Hong Kong. To encourage HKSAR athletes, the Club will, for the first time, provide cash incentives under the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme (JCAIAS) in all medal categories of the NGD, with individual and team gold medallists receiving HK$187,500 and HK$375,000 respectively (See table below for details).

Lester Huang expressed his wholehearted support for the city’s para athletes, encouraging them to follow the inspiring example of HKSAR athletes at the 15th National Games. “The Hong Kong team has written a new and glorious chapter in our city’s sporting history with a total of 19 medals, including nine golds, two silvers and eight bronzes. The Club has long promoted sport at community and elite levels, enabling people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to participate. We therefore wish every HKSAR athlete the very best of luck at the upcoming 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games.”

The three-year JCAIAS was launched in 2023. Under the scheme, the Club sponsors the Hong Kong Sports Institute to provide cash awards to Hong Kong, China athletes who excel in major sporting events. These include the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Asian Games, Asian Para Games, World University Games, National Games together with their respective Winter Games and the National Games for Persons with Disabilities.

In support of the National Games, the Club has committed over HK$500 million to the Hong Kong and Guangdong Competition Regions. In the Hong Kong Competition Region, it is supporting volunteer service programmes, territory-wide community and school promotional activities, as well as initiatives to help underprivileged groups and young people attend the events as spectators. Some 100 members from the Club’s Volunteer Team are helping out as Group Volunteers in the Hong Kong Competition Region.

In the Guangdong Competition Region, the Club is providing high-quality technical support for the equestrian events in Shenzhen, leveraging its extensive experience in organising horse sports competitions. To help ensure the equestrian events are conducted to a high standard, the Club is also deploying an expert team and loaning specialist equipment. Additionally, the Club will support the Guangdong Competition Region’s official activities, volunteer services and promotion work.