Punters bet HK$1.94 billion in first Hong Kong race day in Year of the Snake

Punters in Hong Kong bet more than HK$1.94 billion (US$248.7 million) trying their luck at the Lunar New Year horse racing on Friday, with a crowd of nearly 86,000 flocking to Sha Tin.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s “Chinese New Year Raceday”, featuring an 11-race programme, started at 12.30pm but tourists and locals were already lining up to enter Sha Tin Racecourse two hours ahead of time to grab prime viewing spots.

Finance chief Paul Chan Mo-po and culture minister Rosanna Law Shuk-pui were among guests officiating at the opening ceremony of the races, traditionally held on the third day of Lunar New Year.

The crowd was also entertained with lion dances, lucky tips from feng shui master Mak Ling Ling, and a musical performance by singer-songwriter Hins Cheung King-hin.

“I’m betting about HK$2,000 on the first race,” said keen horse-racing fan Wong Kwong-king, a retiree in his sixties.