Huge number of tourists turn up for first racing day

The Hong Kong Jockey Club says more than 43,000 punters

visited the Sha Tin Racecourse on the first day of the new season.

The total turnover of the day is nearly at 1.3 billion dollars.

Apart from locals, the club says over 12,200 visitors are tourists,

an increase of 74% compared to the previous season opening.

Separately, several Hong Kong horses ran in races overseas

today.

Unfortunately, they all finished unplaced in Japan and

South Korea.