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Hong Kong Jockey Club – Season Preview & Key Dates

by Johnny Burke

September 5, 2025

An incredible season of racing in Hong Kong ended with a thriller of a card at Happy Valley. The last season featured only the second Triple Crown winner in history, the emergence of a new legend in the sprinting division, and a host of memorable Group Stakes and international prestige events. As fans and bettors eagerly await its return, we can look ahead to the key fixtures and race dates in the upcoming season.

Season Opening Day | September 7

The 2025-26 season opens at Sha Tin with a daytime card on September 7

Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) | December 14

Last year’s Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) was an historic day for racing in Hong Kong. The spectacle featured local legends KA YING RISING winning the Hong Kong Sprint and VOYAGE BUBBLE taking the Hong Kong Mile. With a strong emphasis on international challengers and world-class jockeys, this year’s HKIR is sure to be an unmissable event for racing fans. Highlight.

Centenary Sprint & Stewards’ Cup (First leg of HK Triple Crown) | January 25

Another showcase for local legends, the Centenary Sprint Cup & Stewards’ Cup were won by KA YING RISING and VOYAGE BUBBLE, respectively. For VOYAGE BUBBLE, this was the start of his Triple Crown campaign, a historic run that captivated the racing world. Featuring numerous Group One races and thrilling stakes, the kickoff to the Hong Kong Triple Crown gets underway on January 25 at Sha Tin. Highlight.

Hong Kong Classic Mile | February 1

The Hong Kong Classic Mile is the first leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, which has produced champions such as MY WISH (2025), VOYAGE BUBBLE (2023), ROMANTIC WARRIOR (2022) and GOLDEN SIXTY (2020). This year’s crop should be primed for yet another historic running, with plenty of stacked fields for bettors to analyze before they head to the gate. Highlight.

Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup | February 22

Last season’s Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup was yet another showcase of the sprinting prowess of international star KA YING RISING. As the second leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series, it was a dominant performance that will surely be tough to top. As we look ahead to this year’s edition, we can only hope to see a repeat of the quality that cemented KA YING RISING as a name we won’t soon forget. Highlight.


Hong Kong Gold Cup (Second Leg of HK Triple Crown) & Classic Cup | March 1

The second leg of the Hong Kong Triple Crown will be run on a separate day from the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup this year, as the ten-furlong bout joins the Classic Cup for a loaded card. Last year’s edition was won by none other than VOYAGE BUBBLE as part of his campaign for Triple Crown glory. This year’s card pairs the middle jewel of the Hong Kong Triple Crown with the second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, the Hong Kong Classic Cup. Highlight.

Hong Kong Derby | March 22

Rounding out the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, the Hong Kong Derby will hopefully crown a clean sweep for Hong Kong's top four-year-old. As the ultimate battle in the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, the local series for this division showcases what the city’s crop has to offer and emphasizes the importance of continued success in Hong Kong for local connections. Highlight.

FWD Champions Day | April 26

FWD Champions Day features three Group One races: the QEII Cup, Champions Mile, and Chairman’s Sprint Prize. KA YING RISING continued to dominate the sprinters’ division with yet another title in this year’s Chairman’s Sprint. Nearing the end of the season, FWD Champions Day is the perfect appetizer to the American Triple Crown as the prep season comes to a close in America. Highlight.

Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (Third Leg of HK Triple Crown) | May 24

Last, but certainly not least, we hope to have yet another Triple Crown on the line when the spotlight hits the featured races on May 24th. This past year, we witnessed history and glory as VOYAGE BUBBLE completed his campaign for the Hong Kong Triple Crown at the age of six. Besting the competition across three different distances, the title was taken for the first time since its only prior winner, RIVER VERDON, achieved the feat in 1994. While another Triple Crown title would make for a truly historic season, as fans we can only hope to witness such a remarkable achievement. Highlight.

Season Closing Day | July 12

At long last, the Hong Kong racing season will come to a close at Sha Tin on July 12th.