END OF ANOTHER GLORIOUS HONG KONG EXPERIENCE

By Darren Winningham | Monday, December 15, 2025

Every December, the eyes of the racing world turn to Hong Kong for one of the most anticipated weeks on the global calendar — the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR).

It’s a celebration of world-class competition, culture, and connection, and it’s a week I look forward to every single year.

The festivities begin with the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) at Happy Valley — a dazzling midweek showdown under the lights that always delivers drama, fun, music and some of the fiercest racing you will see.

Then comes the crown jewel of the season: HKIR Sunday at Sha Tin. This year, more than 48.494 fans packed the racecourse, creating an atmosphere that was nothing short of electric.

The global media descends on Hong Kong too, ready to capture every moment of this racing spectacle. In 2025, over 180 media accreditations were issued to representatives from 16 countries. Despite our different languages and backgrounds, we are united by the same thing — an obvious passion for the sport.

Over the years, I’ve made lifelong friends here, people I continue to stay in touch with long after I have returned home to Australia.

Coming back to Hong Kong each December feels like returning to family. We greet each other with handshakes, hugs, and laughter, swapping stories about our racing scenes, our countries, and the adventures that fill the months between meetings.

At times, it feels like a global tourism expo — except the stories come from the locals themselves.

What makes HKIR truly special is more than the racing. It’s the community that grows around it. The Hong Kong Jockey Club and LONGINES have created something extraordinary — an event that brings the world together through a shared love of horses, competition, and camaraderie.

Inside the media centres, that spirit is unmistakable. Journalists, photographers, and broadcasters from around the world work side by side, sharing stories, swapping memories, and celebrating the sport we all love. It’s collaborative, it’s vibrant, and honestly, it is something I am genuinely proud of and privileged to be a part of.

Every year as I pack my bags and contemplate heading to the airport to board my QANTAS flight home - I am already counting down the days until I can return.

Until we meet again:
• Au Revoir
• Auf Wiedersehen
• Jumpa Lagi
• Arrivederci
• Sayonara

Or, in a language just about all of us can recognise - take it easy — and see ya, mate!

WINNO & TIM are going to get some well-earned sleep in the coming days.

All dressed up

Over the years, I’ve made lifelong friends here, people I continue to stay in touch with long after I have returned home to Australia. Coming back to Hong Kong each December feels like returning to family. We greet each other with handshakes, hugs, and laughter, swapping stories about our racing scenes, our countries, and the adventures that fill the months between meetings.

I am already counting down the days until I can return.