Jockey Club Bridges Elders to Brighter Lives

In light of the rising number of elderly singletons and doubletons in Hong Kong, many of whom face social isolation and limited support networks, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has approved around HK$380 million through its Charities Trust to launch the Jockey Club “Reach to Bridge” Community Elderly Support Project. This four-year project is designed to provide timely and targeted assistance to grass-roots elders by strengthening community support and promoting social integration for elderly couples and those living alone.

Officiating guests at the launch ceremony for the Jockey Club “Reach to Bridge” Community Elderly Support Project included HKSAR Government Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun (2nd left) and Club Steward Bernard Chan (2nd right).

A launch ceremony for the project was held today (28 October). Among the officiating guests were HKSAR Government Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun and Club Steward Bernard Chan.

Club Steward Bernard Chan delivers a speech at the launch ceremony for the Jockey Club “Reach to Bridge” Community Elderly Support Project.

At the ceremony, Club Steward Bernard Chan explained that Older Adults is one of the key priorities of the Club's charities strategy. The Club has taken a proactive role in initiating and supporting elderly care service projects through multi-sector collaboration and innovative approaches, he said. This reflects the Club's steadfast commitment to enhancing elders' quality of life. The project identifies elderly individuals who lack social and support networks and provides them with timely and appropriate service referrals tailored to their physical, mental and spiritual needs - helping them reconnect with the community.

HKSAR Government Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun (centre), Club Steward Bernard Chan (1st left) and other guests tour the exhibition to learn more about services provided by the project, which spans all the city’s 18 districts.

The project began in 2023 as a pilot in six districts and has since expanded to cover all 18 districts across the city. The initiative mobilises community networks in collaboration with 20 non-governmental organisations to identify socially isolated elders through cross-sectoral collaboration, proactive outreach and creative engagement activities. Community stakeholders, including district-based organisations and local shops, are engaged to co-operate in building a close-knit support network. To ensure timely assistance and facilitate appropriate matching of social services, project partners utilise an assessment tool developed by The University of Hong Kong (HKU) to evaluate the physical, psychological and social health status of elderly participants, as well as their service needs. Preliminary findings from HKU's impact assessment indicate improved social connectedness among beneficiaries. Participants are increasingly engaged within their communities, contributing to improved overall mobility.

Club Steward Bernard Chan and other guests tour the exhibition about the Jockey Club “Reach to Bridge” Community Elderly Support Project.

Club Steward Bernard Chan and other guests tour the exhibition about the Jockey Club “Reach to Bridge” Community Elderly Support Project.

In addition, the project provides home improvement services for eligible elderly individuals in need. After gaining an understanding of beneficiaries' daily habits and challenges, project partners provide basic home repair services, replacement of unsafe essential appliances, and installation of home safety assistive devices. These enhancements reduce the risk of home accidents and create a more secure living environment, enabling older adults to age in place with comfort and autonomy. To date, the project has benefited over 11,000 elderly individuals and is expected to reach a total of 30,000 beneficiaries, with more than 15,000 elderly households receiving home improvement support.

The Club's support for the Jockey Club “Reach to Bridge” Community Elderly Support Project, like all its charity and community contributions, 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.

Hong Kong-trained horses dominate the March edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, which were released on Thursday, 12 March, occupying the top two spots.

Ka Ying Rising remains the world’s highest-rated horse in training with a rating of 128 in the March edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings. Photo source: HKJC

David Hayes-trained Ka Ying Rising maintained his position as the top-rated horse in training with an international rating of 128, while Danny Shum’s Romantic Warrior was ranked second with a rating of 124.

Both horses are focused on domestic glory for the remainder of this season: Ka Ying Rising is aiming to retain his Hong Kong Speed Series honours with victory in April’s G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m), while the world’s highest-earning horse Romantic Warrior is looking to complete the Triple Crown with a win in the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) on 24 May.

Romantic Warrior strengthened his global standing after claiming a record-extending 13th Group 1 success in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) on 1 March. Photo source: HKJC

Ka Ying Rising next races in Easter Monday’s (6 April) G2 Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin when he goes for a 19th win in succession.

Hong Kong boasts four entries in the top 20 of the March edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings. Manfred Man’s Lucky Sweynesse is ranked joint-11th with an international rating of 118, while John Size-trained Helios Express is joint-15th with a rating of 117.