Apr 12, 20167 min read

THE HAPPY WEDNESDAY DAILY

With racing last Wednesday at Shatin, and certainly a happy night for Karis Teetan and Joao Moreira, who both rode doubles whereas our bon ami Olivier Doleuze rode his first winner since his return to racing after an operation on his shoulder, it still wasn’t a Happy Wednesday.

But fear not: On Wednesday at Happy Valley Racecourse, Happy Wednesday is back with a bang with the first of our three Digital Nights.

Be prepared to see the latest technological breakthroughs from Samsung, how YOU can literally put yourself in the picture, and be part of a truly inter-active night out.

Of course, the eight races will be the main attraction, but those twentysomething minutes between all the ontrack action will be full of activities created to keep you involved. Apart from the ‘live’ music by Carnivale at the Beer Garden, and the great Jennifer Palor Band at Adrenaline, the chance to be part of YouTubers Dan And Phil’s 7-Second Challenge plus a number of prizes to be won, the next few Digital Nights will be about greater inter-activity amongst the Happy Wednesday regulars. And though the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens might have ended, there’ll be many visitors from overseas still in town.

Taking in a Happy Wednesday is a Must Do and quite the tourist attraction with the big rumour being that Leo- Leonardo DiCaprio- was spotted by many at the Beer Garden a few weeks ago with a baseball cap pulled down, and a hoodie used to try and disguise his presence. Hope you had a truly Happy Wednesday, Leo!

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KEI CHIONG AND HER SUPER SHATIN SUNDAY: AND NOW WHAT?

The Amber Alert storm warning might have been a giveaway. Maybe it was the heavens opening up, and some even wondering if the race meeting would go on. But the show went on with the star being Kei Chiong, the first female in fifteen years to be licensed to ride in Hong Kong.

Where does one start and end about what this ten-pound claiming apprentice, still very much a work in progress, accomplished at Shatin on Sunday without going overboard, and giving the young girl unnecessary pressure? How does one temper the fact that Kei Chiong rode four winners, and came so close to riding a quintet of winners?

Well, as Felix Coetzee, the great South African jockey, who the HKJC has wisely chosen to mentor its apprentices, would say, “Don’t worry about Kei. She’s got a head on her shoulders and is a tough cookie”.

Coetzee, who, through his partnerships with two hard taskmasters in trainers Brian Kan and Tony Cruz with whom came those memorable Silent Witness Years during those dark days when Hong Kong was under a cloud with the SARS crisis, knows just what a tough, competitive and fickle place the city can be, especially when it comes to horse racing. It takes a tough- mentally tough more than anything else- and fiercely competitive individual to succeed.

For Kei Chiong, who has blossomed under the strict tutelage of Coetzee, has returned to racing after an injury with greater determination. This will to win has suddenly seen an impressive strike rate over the past few weeks and months. But to ride four winners against some of the best jockeys in the world is a watershed moment for Hong Kong racing- a time when the sport has been completely dominated by the brilliant Brazilian Magic Man- Joao Moreira with only Zac Purton able to take him on.

There hasn’t been a Made In Hong Kong racing hero for a very long time. Perhaps one has to go all the way back to the days when Tony Cruz was taking on all comers and beating them- Piggott, Eddery, Cauthen, Swinburn, Carson etc- to find this hero.

For a while, Matthew Chadwick looked like being the “new” Tony Cruz, but that initial burst of talent and success has been short-circuited through injuries, personal problems, and, perhaps, different priorities now that he’s a family man. Though a good jockey, maybe Chadwick lacked that focused ruthlessness to be more than a talented ten-pound claiming apprentice?

The great Douglas Whyte had, and probably still has that determination, and which gave this one-time unknown South African jockey thirteen consecutive Hong Kong Jockey Premierships. That reign ended only three years ago when another determined rider- Zac Purton- dethroned him.

As we all know, you’re only as good as your last big hit, or last winner, and this season, nothing seems to be clicking for the former champion jockey. He’s now had way too many rides without bringing home a winner, and many of those former support systems are no longer there. It’s a fickle world, Batman. And as any jockey anywhere in the world will tell you, you don’t ride winners watching the races from the sidelines, and by going around on also-rans.

There are a number of changes taking place these days in Hong Kong racing. Within the jockey ranks, is Joao Moreira here for the long run, or does the sashimi buffet of Japan beckon? Will there be two new trainers from overseas next season? Will Able Friend make his comeback?

Where is the HKJC going with co-mingling and its hugely successful Happy Wednesday brand? How will its racing programmes be changed or improved to meet the challenges of co-mingling and simulcasts in 2016? There’s no place for complacency in today’s helter skelter world of constant change.

With Kei Chiong and her fantastic Super Shatin Sunday, the HKJC has a human interest story to rival that of Michelle Payne becoming the first female rider to win the Melbourne Cup. And though it’s great to hear that Kei was on the cover of Apple Daily, the leading Chinese racing newspaper, surely there’s a bigger story here?

Just as when Silent Witness gave the people of Hong Kong hope during the SARS crisis, Kei Chiong’s success comes at a time when the youth of the city are restless and demanding change. Even if it’s for a short while, this success story that happened to take place on a racetrack can be a respite from the anger and frustration gripping Hong Kong today.

Gawd knows Hong Kong needs a shot of positivity. How the HKJC markets Kei Chiong and all the positivity surrounding her Super Shatin Sunday to Hong Kong and overseas will be interesting to watch.

Could she, for example. “crossover” to promote some of the activities of the Club’s Charities Trust? Does her quartet of winners make her eligible to be included in the Guinness Book Of World Records? Can she be the Face of Happy Wednesday and Happy Wednesday Girl Power?

How can the Kei Chiong success story travel globally, and be something more than a horse racing story- hidden, but not seen by potential sponsors, new business partners and all those potential racing fans standing on the sidelines and wanting a reason- like seeing a young female succeeding in what is a male dominated world- to become part of the sport?

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WHO AND WHAT’S IN AND OUT

Frank Underwood

OUT

Donald Trump

Kendall Jenner

OUT

Kim Kardashian

Kei Chiong

IN AGAIN

Kei Chiong

Zayn Malik

OUT

OneDirection

Entertaining at home

OUT

Eating out

Amy Schumer and Jennifer Lawrence

OUT

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler

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INTERESTING QUESTION: WHAT REALLY DOES INSPIRE YOU IN HONG KONG?

'The mystery of old Hong Kong'. Artist Rachel Ip on Sheung Wan. What inspires you in Hong Kong? #HKwelltravelled pic.twitter.com/pegHZZWIwY — Cathay Pacific (@cathaypacific) March 24, 2016

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THE HAPPY WEDNESDAY TRENDSETTERS SEARCH

Following on from our Happy Wednesday Fashionistas competition, we’ve moved things up a notch and expanded on the theme with our search for Happy Wednesday’s Trendsetters.

Who have been some trendsetters throughout history? One can, frankly, go all the way back to Thomas Edison. More contemporary trendsetters have included everyone from Kate Moss and Nirvana to Apple and everything the iconic brand has given the world to David and Victoria Beckham.

We’re looking for trendsetters in Hong Kong- designers, musicians, fashionistas, entrepreneurs, and anyone and everything from the creative community.

Our talent scouts will start scouring the Beer Garden, Adrenaline, the paddock area etc for talent whereas you can always write in to Trendsetters@FastTrackHK with reasons why you or someone you know should be seen as a trendsetter.

The search starts on Wednesday, it will last until the end of the this racing season in July, and we’ll be keeping you informed of the guest judges, the very many prizes to be won, and who’s on our leader board and why.

It’s our way of expanding Hong Kong’s creative community and adding some pizazz to it. We look forward to hearing from you and meeting you in person.

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WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO BUMP INTO AT THE BEER GARDEN?

It’s a question that’s been going through our heads for quite a while. But so as not to let subjectivity get in the way, we asked regulars of Happy Wednesday at the Beer Garden. Adrenaline and the Gallery, jockeys, trainers, owners and racing fans, and were surprised at some of the names mentioned.

What we couldn’t take seriously is the jockey who told us the person they would most like to bump into at the Beer Garden would be bloodstock agent George Moore, son of champion trainer John Moore.

The Top Ten Plus 1 from our mini research?

Kanye West: Just imagine the subjects we could tackle! The first question would be, what are you going to do to make up for murdering “Bohemian Rhapsody”, and probably followed up by, How many hours do you spend on Twitter and where do you get the ideas for your tweets?

Leonardo DiCaprio: Certain ladies we know desperately want to see his Oscar. Let’s leave it at that.

Kendall Jenner: Who on earth wouldn’t want to bump into her- anywhere? She’s young, gorgeous and seems refreshingly different to her far more in-your-face siblings.

Gigi Hadid: Model, good friend of Kendall Jenner and equally exquisite.

David Beckham: Imagine being able to kick a ball around the Beer Garden with Becks. Apart from that, who wouldn’t want to meet the world’s most perfect human being?

The Entire Cast of Zoolander: A Best Blue Steel Face Off at the Beer Garden?

Adele: Just to hear her say, Hello.

Faye Wong: So she might act like a diva. That’s fine. She’s entitled to. But just one song at Adrenaline would make our year.

Chris Rock: Just to have him repeat his Oscar’s monologue onstage at the Beer Garden.

Heidi Klum: Just to ask her what made her marry Seal. Then, ask her to come up to Adrenaline so we can sit and worship at her feet.

Johnny Depp: Just to have him sit in with the band at Adrenaline and play guitar. You didn’t know he played guitar?

David Blaine: We have to wonder…will he be able to turn losing tickets into winning tickets? Will this incredible illusionist and one spooky guy be able to tell the outcome of a race before it’s been run? Will he turn the races upside down? Is he even allowed onto a racetrack?

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ASK THE DUDE

Co-mingling or Commingling: Living with a really hot chick.

Real meaning: allowing bettors outside a racing jurisdiction to bet into another racing jursidiction’s wagering pool and share in the dividends of that pool if their bet(s) are successful. For example, a bettor in the United States placing an online wager on a race held at Happy Valley in Hong Kong.

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Tote: Where you keep your stash.

Real meaning : An invention by English-born, Australian inventor Sir George Alfred Julius, this is the large alpha-numeric board seen at race tracks all over the world, which keeps track of bets, percentages and results and calculates payouts.