Now & Then﹕

【明報專訊】It was on 7 October 1978 that Hong Kong's second racecourse (in Shatin) officially opened. Horse racing began here in 1841. The sport was brought here by the British, who laid down the modern horse racing rules. It subsequently became more popular with citizens. The Royal Hong Kong Jockey (as it was then called) came into being in 1884. The Hong Kong Jockey Club is the official organisation that manages all horse races in the territory. Horse racing is popular not only here but elsewhere too. Some countries boast centuries-old horse racing tradition.