China’s gaming hub Macau holds final horse racing race

After more than four decades, Macau Racecourse held its final race on Saturday, bringing an end to the sport in a city known for its massive casinos.

In January, the Macau government said it would terminate its contract with the Macau Jockey Club in April. The decision was taken at the request of the Macau Racing Corporation, which cited operational difficulties as one of the reasons for the closure.

Gamblers gathered in half-full stands on Saturday to place their final bets. Some tourists also visit the track.

Mak Man-chun, a Macau student from mainland China, said she wanted to get a taste of the atmosphere. “We can come to Macau to watch horse racing, but we can’t go to mainland China,” she said.

Macau resident Helena Chong decided to visit the racecourse for the first and last time to catch a glimpse of it.

“It’s such a shame to see the end of all this gambling and entertainment,” she said.

The former Portuguese colony’s horse racing industry has struggled with economic challenges in recent years and has yet to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Macau News Agency reported earlier that its Jockey Club has accumulated operating losses of more than US$311 million.

The government said that under the termination arrangement, the horse racing company promised to arrange for the owner’s horses to be transported to other locations before March 2025 and to deal with the company’s employees in accordance with the law.

In neighboring Hong Kong, horse racing remains popular and profitable. Its Jockey Club operates various gambling activities and is a major donor to many of the city’s charities.