Horse racing in Hong Kong began soon after the British arrived, making its Happy Valley racecourse the oldest track in Asia outside China. It remains hugely popular in Hong Kong, though it may not be the actual sport that attracts so much attention. Except for local lotteries, it’s Hong Kong’s only legal form of gambling. Many Hongkongers don’t even go to the races, but rather place their bets in one of 100 or so off-course betting centers throughout Hong Kong or online. Everyone’s hoping for that big win–especially because winnings are tax free. There are two horseracing tracks, at Happy Valley and Sha Tin.

The racecourses

Happy Valley had its beginnings in 1846, when swampland–the only flat area on the island–was cleared for a track. The present racecourse was built in 1995 and contains the Hong Kong Racing Museum, with exhibits relating to the migration of horses from China to Hong Kong, construction of Sha Tin’s course, and the history of the Hong Kong Jockey Club.