On Saturday, Macau, the renowned gaming destination in China, hosted its concluding horse racing events at the Taipa Racecourse, marking the end of a four-decade-long tradition. Despite the historical significance, the spectator stands were notably underfilled, as enthusiasts placed their last bets in the city better known for its casino offerings.
The closing races on March 30, 2024, at the Macau Jockey Club’s Taipa Racecourse, represented the final chapter of horse racing in the region. Earlier in January, the local government announced the early termination of its agreement with the Macau Jockey Club (MJC), cutting short a 24-year contract established in 2018. This contract initially required the MJC to commit to substantial investments in infrastructure improvements and service expansion.
The Taipa Racecourse will revert to government control, with no future plans to revive racing (Image: Sky Racing World). The decision came as horse racing struggled to regain its pre-pandemic popularity, leading to significant financial losses for the MJC, amounting to over $311 million last year alone. The Macau Horse Racing Company (MHRC), the MJC’s parent entity, subsequently requested a contract release from the government.
The government cited the “impossibility of aligning horse racing with the current societal development needs” and the diminishing interest among locals and tourists as key reasons for the contract termination, explained Secretary for Administration and Justice Cheong Weng Chon in January.
As part of the termination deal, the MHRC will relocate the horses owned by the club by March 31, 2025, and will offer severance to its employees. Despite the waning popularity, the MJC was among Macau’s largest private sector employers, with approximately 800 full-time and 300 part-time staff.
The MJC site, including the Taipa Racecourse, is to be returned to the government, which currently has no intentions of constructing another racetrack. However, there have been discussions among lawmakers about possibly converting the site into a venue for international sports.
Founded in 1980 as the Macau Trotting Club for harness racing, the club shifted focus to thoroughbred racing due to the initial model’s lack of success. In 1991, the MJC was taken over by the MHRC, a group led by the late casino mogul Stanley Ho, who maintained a gambling monopoly in Macau until 2002.
Meanwhile, horse racing continues to enjoy popularity in the nearby region of Hong Kong.
