REGULATIONS CONSTITUTE A BIG HURDLE IN BRINGING AUSTRALIAN HORSES TO RACE IN HONG KONG

By Darren Winningham | Wednesday, April 23, 2025

With so much prizemoney and prestige on offer in winning a Group 1 race in Hong Kong, why is it that the bulk of Australian trainers and owners seem to shy away from bringing their horses here to compete on one of the renowned international equine amphitheaters in the world?

Look at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) in December where there is HK$126 million on offer over four Group 1 races.

Then we have FWD Champion’s Day in April where HK$74 million is up for grabs over three Group 1 races.

I went in search of the answers and who better to explain the process of Australian horses coming to and from Hong Kong other than Greg Carpenter – HKJC Head of Racing Product.

“It has been very difficult to get Australian horses to compete overseas, particularly here in Hong Kong,” acknowledged Carpenter.

“I think there's a multi-factorial reason for that.

"One is always that the quarantine process … pre-export, post arrival quarantine for horses going into Australia are the most onerous in any country in the world for obvious reasons.

"We know the horses that come here from Japan, England, Ireland, France in the Middle East simply get on a plane and arrive a week later and a day or two after the race, they go home,” Carpenter said.

For the Australian horses they must remain in Hong Kong post-race for two weeks. Then when they finally go back to Australia, they must do another two weeks in quarantine before being permitted to go back to their home stables. This can be a major challenge for trainers and owners with the trip to Hong Kong taking five or six weeks from start to finish."

But just when you think you can plan a preparation and recovery of the horse to and from Hong Kong – we have more compliance and regulatory requirements!

Carpenter went on to explain the next challenge.

“The vaccination regime for Australian horses that is required for horses to travel up here is another barrier encounter.”

It is a fact that some horses just do not cope – like humans with some vaccinations and that can affect them in a negative way.

"The final hurdle is Australian racing itself. The HJKC is under no illusions about the competitive Group 1 racing and huge prizemoney that is now on offer in Australia."

In summation, “we understand the reality of the size of the challenge, but we keep working on it," said Carpenter.

"We are very glad that we had three Australian representatives last December that were great for us, and we have two here – they are Group 1 winning horses that come into the race in very good form."

I get that we have strict quarantine rules in Australia to minimise the risk of exotic pests and diseases entering the country and to protect our vibrant agricultural industry and our unique flora and fauna, but is it not time that Australian Racing unite and consider a purpose-built quarantine facility with access to a training track – walkers, swimming facilities and other equipment to ensure the welfare of the champion horses that come and go from our country?

With the millions we spend on prizemoney and special programs in horse racing – this would be a small investment, however, a worthwhile one into Australian and international racing.

As the HKJC says – we want our best horses to be tested by the best international runners.

Maybe we should take a leaf out of their book!

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