Hong Kong Cup

Turf race infobox
class = Group 1
horse race = Hong Kong Cup


caption =
location = Sha Tin Racecourse
Hong Kong, China flagicon|Hong Kong
inaugurated = 1988
race type = Thoroughbred - Flat racing
website = [http://www.hkjc.com/english/ Hong Kong Jockey Club]
distance = 2,000 metres
track = Grass, right-handed
qualification = Three-year-olds & up
weight = Assigned
purse = HK$20,000,000
bonuses = The Hong Kong Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Hong Kong for three-year-old and above thoroughbreds run over a distance of 2,000 metres (approximately 1 mile 2 furlongs) at Sha Tin Racecourse in mid December. The race currently offers a purse of HK$20,000,000 (approximately US$2.5 million).

The inaugural race was held on January 24, 1988. Following the January 1989 race, it was changed to a December event and another running took place that same year on December 17, 1989. The race was first run over 1,800 metres (1 mile 1 furlong) which was increased to the present distance in 1999 when the race became a Group 1 event. It is one of the four Hong Kong International Races.

The first race was restricted to horses trained in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. Added to this list for the following season were horses from Australia and New Zealand. European trained horses were admitted in 1990, followed by those from the United States in 1991, Canada and Japan in 1992.

The race was originally staged in January, and was switched to December for the third running, therefore taking place twice within 1989.

Records

Speed record: (at present distance of 2,000 metres)
* 2:00.9 - Falbrav (2003)

Most wins:
* No horse has won this race more than once

Most wins by an owner:
* 2 - Godolphin Racing (2000, 2007)

Most wins by a jockey:
* 3 - Frankie Dettori (2000, 2003, 2007)

Most wins by a trainer:
* 2 - Saeed bin Suroor (2000, 2007)

Winners of the Hong Kong Cup

* The "1992" race actually took place in April 1993 - it had been postponed in December due to an equine virus.