It’s all too easy to say that someone was a “character”. Very few really are. Hong Kong racing lost one of its most colourful characters when Brian Kan Ping-chee left us for a new journey on Saturday night. He must have loathed to see what his Hong Kong and Macau has become.
Outspoken, feared and very much his own man, Brian Kan was a five-time Champion Hong Kong Trainer, won five Hong Kong Derbies and every other major race here.
He was also the person to go against the grain, and had the vision to look to South Africa for riding talent by bringing Bart Leisher to be his stable jockey.
The two clicked immediately and this combination quickly won over the racing public.
Bartie Leisher was a brilliant rider and a charismatic and extremely popular personality who worked well with the somewhat enigmatic and highly respected Brian Kan.
Until a dreadful race track accident at Shatin in 1989 derailed his career, Bart Leisher was the original magic man.
The power and respect of and for Brian Kan transcended horse racing and into politics and which is a story for another day.
His friends came from different segments of Hong Kong’s business circle, and they all became part of Hong Kong racing. They brought a certain pizazz- and maybe even some pizzas- to the races.
It was easy to see that these gentlemen with their slicked back jet black hair, shades that hid many secrets, beautifully tailored cream coloured suits with matching spats and glamorous ladies draped over their arms, were no ordinary businessmen.
When just out of school and trying to see what might lie ahead, one couldn’t help being fascinated by the personalities these gentlemen exuded. They were goodfellas who were good to know.
They had that certain je ne sais quoi. They could have been the Chinese relatives of also “colourful characters”, but in American folklore with names like Jack “Legs” Diamond, Meyer Lankay and Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, below, who saw the potential of Las Vegas and helped further that Casino Culture.
It’s funny when one thinks of horse racing back in those days when controversial Macau casino magnate Stanley Ho raced some of the best horses in Hong Kong like the champion Viva Pataca.
They were glamorous days of nights out at upmarket escort Clubs which belonged to other owners- always very generous hosts to the racing fraternity-and which is missing in racing today. Much is missing in Hong Kong, let alone in horse racing...
Brian Kan pretty much ruled the roost, didn’t back down from questioning authority, and had some of the greatest jockeys working with and for him- Brent Thomson, Felix Coetzee, Michael Kinane, Brian Rouse and others.
He used his apprentices wisely, especially now trainer Jimmy Ting.
When Ting trained his first winner in 2018- Triumphant Jewel- Brian Kan made it a point to be there. He received a hero’s welcome from the Chinese crowd. And why not? He was the Bruce Lee of horse racing.
The horses he trained were champion Hong Kong gallopers like Star Mark, Sound Print, Yuno When, William’s Coach, Superior Gold, Industrial Pioneer, Industrialist...A couple of the owners or their families are still racing their horses for another of Mr Kan’s former apprentices and now Trainer- Dennis Yip.
Those who knew him or knew of him or learned from him about respect and pride and fighting for what we believe in will never forget a unique individual who was a vital part of horse racing.
The man is a legend and here’s hoping that Hong Kong racing gives him the send off he so richly deserves.
Rest in Peace and Power, Sir.
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