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| Company News |
| 2017/2018 Season Press Conference concluded |
| MJC Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer Mr Thomas Li, Operations Controller Mr Kwang Eng Seong, Acting Chief Stipendiary Steward Mr Peter Dombkins and Racing Administration & International Affairs Manager Ms Marie May Low Hang convened the 2017/2018 Season Press Conference at the E-F Room on the 5th floor of Racing Complex, Taipa racecourse on Saturday, 23 September 2017.
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| Firstly, Mr Thomas Li briefed major items for the new season: |
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The Macau Jockey Club horse racing concession agreement has been extended for 6 months by the government, till February 2018, this half year is a transition period for us to communicate with the government on matters of future policies of the Club, so that the Club can have a greater and brighter development in the future. |
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Since 2016, we have invested a lot to upgrade our betting system, in order to provide a faster and easier betting experience, and the new system was welcomed by racegoers. Starting at the new season the club is planning to introduce Cross Pools All Up, after extensive discussion with the system manufacturer. |
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The Club was hit hard by typhoon at August, and many facilities were damaged. It is encouraging that our staffs repaired the damage in a short period of time and races can be held on schedule. The Club was appreciated to have cooperation and understanding from our members and owners. Also I am very thankful to all staffs. |
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We will work toward the following three objectives, oversea auctions simulcast, diversified races and new measures, to refresh our members, owners and racegoers. |
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The MJC simulcasts of Australian, New Zealand and Irish horse sales in the past were very successful. In new season we are taking other auctions into consideration. By now we are negotiating on yearling sales simulcast and provide one-stop service for owners, including yearling horses training and trialing before they were shipped to Macau. |
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“The Macau Race Horse Owners Association Plate”, “The Macau Race Horse Owners Association Bowl” and “The Macau Race Horse Owners Association Cup” are held today, the opening day of the new season. To encourage owners to put their horses in races, owners whose horses are declared to race on today or 30 September can enjoy a series of benefit. International Mixed Double Jockeys Challenge held last season had received overwhelming response, and the Club is considering to hold the Challenge biannually, and detail will be announced in the future. Macau-Hong Kong Trophy and Macau Derby will be held on 4 March 2018, Chairman's Challenge Cup, which previously held together with those 2 races on the same day, will be held on 28 April 2018 instead. Hong Kong-Macau Trophy will be postponed to 12 May 2018. |
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The MJC have recently signed a membership agreement with newly-opened hotel “The Macau Roosevelt”. “The Macau Roosevelt” is at the best location that has a great view to the race track, therefore our members can enjoy their time in Macau with exciting horse racing and five-star hotel service. |
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There will be 50 racedays arranged in the new season with 6-8 races for each racemeeting as it would be an advantage to the betting turnover. |
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The horse population remains more than 300 in the Club, it shows that our members and owners are still confident and fully support the Club. I am very thankful to all the members and owners |
Mr Kwang Eng Seong then shared news and changes regarding betting in the forthcoming season:
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The Club will hold 50 Macau race days in the 2017/18 season, running between 6 to 8 races per race day. |
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The Club has launched its official app “MJC TV” at the end of the last season. Racing fans can access latest MJC racing information and watch live race transmission anytime, anywhere. The Club will continue to improve the app as we go along.
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Since the new betting system rolled out on last season and has been proven to be stable, the Club is planning to launch Cross Pools All Up to cater to our customers’ need and to make the betting more interesting. |
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As the new system is in place, we are planning to simulcast more overseas races and promote our races overseas, with the aim to promote Macau as a world centre of tourism and leisure. I am not unable to disclose identity of our potential commingling partners at this stage. The Club will continue to seek more global partner to commingle with our pools, to promote Macau horse racing and to have more competitive pools. |
After that Mr Peter Dombkins elaborated the highlights of the new reason regarding racing matters:
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Taipa racecourse was not spared the fury of Mother Natures’ ferocious typhoon Hato in August and almost all areas of the racecourse suffered some damage in varying degrees. |
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The spirit of the racing community was on display the very next day after Hato. The cleanup had started, both licenced persons and MJC personnel were doing whatever they could to clear paths to allow access into areas that were barricaded by tree branches and debris. There is a healthy, resilient spirit in this club. |
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The various MJC departments have worked very hard to ensure all systems are functioning correctly, as some were damaged by typhoon Hato. |
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12 days after Hato’s wrath, the training track was opened, horses could be prepared for the new seasons racing. |
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Recently a shipment 31 new horses arrived in Macau, and I had the pleasure to see some of those horses as they left the quarantine stables. There are a good number of classy looking individuals, that makes one look forward with optimism to the new seasons racing, as it looks very promising. |
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The Stewards will endeavour as usual to uphold integrity, to ensure a level playing field for all of racings stakeholders. Stewards have increased the number of out of competition testing for horses also, the Stewards have implemented more stringent conditions on barrier trials for horses with embargos. |
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In consultation with the MJC Veterinarians, we have tightened restrictions on various preparations, these are a few examples of our endeavours to strengthen integrity in Macau. |
Ms Marie May Low Hang introduced the sales simulcast from Australasia into Macau:
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In the new season we continue to work closely with Sales Companies around the globe to bring an array of international sales to your doorstep, whenever possible, as well as attractive buyers’ incentives and subsidies. |
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MJC will bring you access to some of the best Yearling Sales in the new season and we will assist you with the caring of your horses every need from Breaking In, Spelling and Pre Training at the Stud Farm, pre export quarantine and shipment to Macau, all in a breeze of some 9 months from the time of purchase. |
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Once the Hong Kong - Zhuhai - Macau bridge is in operation, it is hoped that this will facilitate logistics, providing opportunities for owner’s to see their horses competing, not only locally but amongst international competitors. |
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The Club welcomes its new overseas owners from Japan and Australia this season. We hope to continue to attract new international owners from around the world, to Macau racing. It will be the perfect complement to our local owners as we race into the future. |
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Group photo after the 2017/2018 Season Press Conference. |
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