Happy Valley Racecourse

The Wednesday night horse racing event at Happy Valley is an exhilarating experience! The energy in the stands is electric, and the excitement of watching the horses thunder around the track is unmatched. The HK$10 admission fee is a steal, offering great value for a fun night out. The atmosphere is lively, with live music and entertainment adding to the excitement. Whether you're a seasoned racing fan or just looking for a unique night out, Happy Valley's Wednesday night racing is a must-visit. The camaraderie among the crowd, the thrill of the races, and the stunning Hong Kong backdrop make for an unforgettable experience. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a fun and thrilling night out in Hong Kong!

If you're in Hong Kong on a Wednesday night, don't miss the horse races at Happy Valley! The first race starts at 7:15 PM, but it’s best to arrive at least 30 minutes early to find a good seat. There are free open seating areas on the ground level, but if you prefer a better view, you can book a balcony seat on the second floor for just HKD 20 – totally worth it. There are plenty of food stalls inside, including a McDonald’s right by the entrance. You can grab some fast food, take it up to your seat, and enjoy your meal while watching the race – super casual and fun. Tourists can enter for free – just line up at the special tourist queue at the entrance and show your passport. It's an exciting, authentic local experience that’s perfect for an evening out in the city.

When you're in Hong Kong on Wednesday! Please do not miss the Happy valley racecourse evening!!! It's a great place to visit on Wednesday evening, the race starts at 7:30 PM. Great vibe good food and good drinks available. Great atmosphere, good crowd, chill atmosphere, good electricfy crowd, the must visit place on Wednesday is the new friday in hongkong.

We visited on Happy Wednesday. We got there really early. The security guards and hosts were all very friendly. The food was good. The atmosphere was electric. We gambled and one and loss small $20hkd bets. It was fun people watching. It was great seeing some people win big betting against the Odds. Definitely worth the experience! We got in free with our passports as tourists. The entrance would have only been $10 hkd though.

Really great ambience! Just take the tram for 3.3 hkd and you'll reach in no time! Check the schedule online first for the race times and location as there are also another race course at shatin. Night races start at 7pm and ends about 11pm. 9 races a day in 30 minutes interval. 12 horses per race. Minimum bet is 20 hkd. Just check out the photos and videos. There is mini party and really great place to chill and hang out! Just bring your identity document in electronic copy for entry.

Atmosphere here was certainly great- got to meet with a lot of people as well, from different countries. Every month, there would be a different theme - this month for example has been French, and next month (June 2025) would be a music festival.

It was first built in 1845 to provide horse racing for the British people in Hong Kong. The area was previously swampland, but the only flat ground suitable for horse racing on Hong Kong Island. To make way for the racecourse, Hong Kong Government prohibited rice growing by villages in the surrounding area. The first race ran in December 1846. Over the years, horse racing became more and more popular among the Chinese residents. On 26 February 1918, a temporary grandstand collapsed, knocking over hot food stalls that set bamboo matting ablaze. The ensuing fire killed at least 590 people. Over the years, facilities have been added and extended, including extensively in 1995.

Wasn't expecting too much as I am not a fan of a horse race, but it turned out to be one of the most memorable experience I have ever had. It is free and you can watch the race up close.

4.5 Stars. Nomination and membership by invite only. One of the oldesnt establishments in Hong Kong and biggest tax payer (for obvious reasons) this place is a joy to visit. I already like to people watch, and gamble, add on horse watching? Yes PLEASE. These magnificent thoroughbreds galloping, rumbling, racing was awesome. Put a few dollars down on your horse(s) and it makes it even funner as you cheer (loudly please) on. Nestled smack dab in the middle of a huge, bustling metropolis, this club is superbly maintained, and attracts locals and expats alike. You'll meet people from all over the world here and thats what makes it the best. Betting is not simple if you can't read chinese, but just ask an employee and they can help. I attached a picture as an example. You can drop 1USD to whatever so dont be shy! There are restaurants inside, food vendors outside. I'm more an outside guy, so visiting all the vendors on the grounds while horses run was just pure joy. This night there were about 12 races. Each race itself last minutes. Then the wait in between races is maybe 30-40min each. The wait is what drops it from a 5 star to 4.5 star for me as it is way too tempting to eat more, bet more (I am sure it is planned on purpose that way, hehe). Perfect to bring your love. Perfect to bring a group of friends. Perfect for a first date. Perfect to bring the fam. Perfect for anything basically, come see Hong Kong Jockey Club as a MUST DO in your Hong Kong visit.

Cancel your Wednesday night plans and come to Happy Valley for the horse races! Know nothing about horse betting? No problem. Not a gambler? No problem. You'll still have a blast! This place is a party for everyone. For the budget friendly folks, $10 hkd ($1.30 usd) will get you into the ground level Beer Garden to watch alongside a rowdy but fun crowd. Plenty of beer and food vendors to keep you giddy during the races. For a finer experience, the $590 hkd ($76 usd) buffet dinner on the upper level Terrace is fantastic for a date night or night out with friends. During my recent trip to HK, I was treated to the buffet dinner at The Terrace and damn did that meal make up for all the money I lost. All you can eat and drink (beer/wine) for 4 hours over the course of 12 races. Yeah, talk about a good time! The buffet offered an excellent array of dishes like duck sausage, ratatouille, lamb satay, prime rib, fingerling potatoes, fruit, pastries and a whole lot more. Never ending deliciousness. You will not be disappointed! The staff was beyond attentive, constantly replenishing the buffet, clearing plates, and taking/delivering drink orders. Everyone's English friendly so don't be shy and ask for tips on how to place your bets! The excitement of watching horses wiz by you is something you need to experience if you're in Hong Kong. The stunning racetrack in the middle of the hustling and bustling of Hong Kong Island will surely surprise you. Come for a good time, come for the food and drinks, come to win some cash baby!

REVIEWER # 17 Are you in Hong Kong on Wednesday evening? Need something to do? Well come hang out at Happy Valley Racecourse and bet on beautiful horses while drinking beer and meeting new people! That's exactly what I did during my lovely stay in Hong Kong! A local friend in HK recommended that we go here during my stay as this place seems to be "A must see". I have to admit that I had a lovely time. This is the closest and only legal form of gambling in Hong Kong is betting on the horses. LOL! So take as much advantage of this as you can. You can certainly place bets and win some cash! AMAZING! Open on Wednesdays from 5:30PM-11:30PM. Transportation: Happy Valley Racecourse is near Causeway Bay and Wan Chai area. The Trams go directly to Happy Valley. Look out for the sign on the front of the tram and it will take you directly there and drop and pick you up at the front. VERY CONVENIENT! IT'S SIMPLE: You go to Happy Valley and to get in general admission is 10HKD. Don't have cash? No worries, they accept the Octopus card! So convenient! The place is HUGEEE when you walk in. They have tons of vendors serving different type of beers and other drinks. As I remember there weren't any cocktails here, beer was the only option. There are limited food options here so I would encourage you to eat before you come. You can decide to sit on the bleachers or stand by the tracks. I have to say that this is one of my favorite things to do in HK! Horse racing is extremely popular out there! I would definitely recommend you go if you are HK on a Wednesday evening! Such fun and you meet so many fun people from all over the world! Cheap and fun is the best way to go on a Wednesday! FYI: No children! This is an adult only event. Age is 18 and up! REVIEW 217/196

As a first timer to this track, I have to admit it was a lot of fun. Although, my fun was found more within the excitement, food stands, and people watching more than, oh right, the horse betting. While I do enjoy a good horse race, I'm not a huge fan of betting. It's fun to play a few races but since I don't know much about horses other than I think they are beautiful creatures, I'm hardly one to judge on the horse racing aspect. What I can say about this place is there is fun to be had and just the comradery of meeting friends and coming to do something different on a Wednesday night. Hubby and I came with a few of our friends. It was actually on a rare Thursday night due to the Chinese New Year holiday so it was a busy and packed house, making for even more fun, more games, more music and more performers. Sadly I wish I could have mentioned more food, but we were already stuffed from dinner before arriving. The entrance fee of $10 HKD/ 1.30 USD... Cheap! Enter at gate G (public entrance) which is the far right side when facing the course from Wong Nai Chung Road. While the best seats are around the score board naturally, our gang chose to hang out closer to the beer gardens/food stands. The restrooms well, the womens one was a line... as usual so go while a race is going on! The one I found only had 2 stalls and at least it had toilet paper, soap and hand towels so I guess I can't really complain other than the 10 minute wait. The lines to bet weren't too bad and moved quickly. As for food, I just oogled other peoples' hot dogs or whatever those foot long things were. I happily sipped my warm Mulled wine for about $55 HKD/7 USD a cup. For a few hours of fun with friends on a beautiful week night, it was totally worth going. While I don't think we'll be Wednesday night regulars, it was something new, fun and different to do, I'd definitely come back every now and again. I think the more, the merrier! So bring your friends, a few bucks, a good head on your shoulders ...because win or lose, it's all in good fun!

We were told by several people that the Happy Valley Racecourse was the place to be on a Wednesday night. First, it's super easy to get here by either MTA or bus, but know that the closer you get to the track, the more congested traffic around the area is. You can use your Octopus card to pay for entrance or you can trade some bills for tokens for the turnstyle. Once inside, food, drink and gambling are all additional costs and since it was Oktoberfest when we went, they had a variety of sausages and beers to choose from. I ended up with a frozen peach Asahi (yeah, I know... not German) and I enjoyed it. Super refreshing during the high humidity. The food itself was something left to be desired. They had some fast food options or some casual type concessions available for purchase. We went with the sausage to stay in theme, and it was okay. The bread was on the harder side and they put in a lot of condiments to make up for the teenie weenie. I wouldn't order it again. Now, we aren't huge horse race people, but wanted to check out the ambiance. It's an okay place to kill a few hours and maybe test your luck with a few bets. You have everything from hardcore enthusiasts to amateurs just trying to make a few bucks for fun - so just people watching is worth it on it's own.

Oh my goodness, this place is absolutely beautiful. You HAVE TO HAVE TO come here for the horse racing on Wednesday nights. I don't know what a beautiful race course is but this is the most beautiful Horse Race Course in the world. I was absolutely amazed upon entering coming with no expectations. You walk in, and it is just a breath taking view. You can see the city of HK from the race course. The view is just stunning. Great place for friends. Great place to take a girl. Great place to meet a girl. If I ever come back to HK, I'm coming to this race course. It's clean, and just walking around inside the Racecourse you get to see why people love HK. In city of limited space, this Racecourse is extremely spacious and you get a great view of the city and all it's beauty, You have to come here if you have never been, it will not disappoint! Do it for the IG #igworthy

Great spot too have some fun. Near the racetrack the gamblers high is palpable. All the newbies and amateurs are having fun with a pint on ground level. The staff is helpful to make you understand how to gamble. The entrance cost with an octopus card is 10 HK$. A beer is around 50 HK$ a 2L is 200 HK$ less expensive if you take "tiger" more if you take Heineken.

Definitely the expat thing to do in Hong Kong. Wednesday night is race night. For a mere 10HKD, you can get into the general admission area where it's just a huge party. Beer tents, theme nights, raffles, food- it's all here. And the people watching? Top notch! There are several other options that cost a bit more like the Terrace and the dining room, but all the cool people fill the general admission stands. Fun time- a must do for residents, transients and visitors.

When I was a kid, I always thought horse racing was a very "local" thing to do, with "Uncle Bill" on commentary at an unbelievable pace and some incomprehensible jargon. On ATV too, if you were from the same era too. Apparently things have changed since then. The Hon. Ronald Arculli, the former chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, made a series of transformation from within the Jockey Club, and re-branded it as a more friendly, not-just-so-about-gambling kind of entertainment. (But still, the gambling pool in HK is 6th largest in the world.) Indeed, the first time I was at the Beer Garden, I was pleasantly surprised. It was clean, with beer tents, very organized queues and betting booths, helpful staff. The local, aggressive kind of gamblers (those looked like the age of my grandpa) were sitting far away from the Beer Garden, concentrating on their bets. For those in the here were a younger crowd, cared not so much about the races but more about the fun. One should also appreciate the effort they made to blend in other festivals too. Often there were live bands, or people dressing up for different occasions. Hell yeah, they even started calling it "Happy Wednesdays" too, ditching the fact that there are races going on, and also the fact that the races happen in Happy Valley are always on Wednesday anyway. Well, this is the place I don't mind coming with a bunch of friends enjoying a Wednesday, given the non-existent entry fee (HKD$10, or free in a lot of occasions). I don't even feel like having to gamble whenever I am here.

There are two racecourses for horse racing here in Hong Kong, one near Fo Tan and one in Happy Valley. And there are a few notes for all the first-timers here: First, check the schedule on the website to make sure they do have races on that day; it would be a shame that you travel all the way to the race course and realize there isn't any races that day. After that, I HIGHLY recommend tourists to go to the latter one. Normally the one in Fo Tan has the races in the morning while the one in Happy Valley starts after 6pm. So why happy valley? Not only is it on Hong Kong island, you can also find way more tourists here to chat with instead of in Fo Tan where you will be surrounded by middle aged men who cannot really speak English. To me, those in Fo Tan are hardcore gambling while those in Happy Valley are more about enjoying the atmosphere while having a couple of drinks and betting for fun. So where is the perfect place to watch the race? If you are more of an atmosphere guy, STAY on the ground floor. I understand it is super packed there but it is the perfect place to mingle and feel the excitement when the race begins. Everyone will stand next to the fences and you can feel th horses running nearby. However, if you prefer the magnificence of the view, go to the top floor and you will be very pleased with it. But it is rather quiet and I prefer the ground floor still. There is a fast-food chain inside but it is even more expensive than those outside, I strongly recommend having your meal before coming; also, it will be a free entry period after 10:30pm as the race is almost over; Most races happen on Wednesday evening, a.k.a. Happy Wednesday and it is one of the best events in Hong Kong. After that you may see lots of people lining up to get on the trams to one of the two places, either Wanchai (ladies night on Wednesday) or LKF. Happy valley surely is a nice pre-game! So drink on!

Low rating due to late cancellation of all races during a Wednesday of protests, although there were no protests near Happy Valley. I planned the day around the track and was disappointed. Hong Kong Jockey Club also disappointed me the following Sunday. Took the train out and was looking forward to the Member's area Tourist Pass experience, something that everyone agrees is a nice gesture for persons in the City for a short time. For reasons that were not apparent nor explained, they decided not to sell the special member's area tourist pass on that Sunday and only offered general admissions to tourists. I am sure the racing in Hong Kong is great and I was looking forward to it. Unfortunately my experience with the Jockey Club was not what they advertised it to be.

You'd think that I'm really into horse racing to give a racecourse 5 stars, but I've got nothing to hide - I go for what's essentially a huge party with a few thousand of your closest could-be acquaintances! The racecourse on Wednesday evenings is the place to be. And what a place it is: well-maintained grounds surrounded by gorgeous skyscrapers as handsome horses run past, you realize just how good you have it living in Hong Kong. Sure, you can place bets and hopefully win some cash. But I enjoy being more of a non-invested spectator who hangs out near the beer garden, soaking up the incredibly buzzy atmosphere. The best part? Admission is a nominal $10HKD and can be paid simply by swiping your Octopus card. This is the good life, yeah?

This place is so dang fun. You just have to go if you come to Hong Kong. It's a local joint, with expats and native HKers everywhere. It's a beautiful place to gaze around, to see and be seen. It's so beautifully cheap. Plenty of people around to help you place your first bets, plenty of people to cheer with you as you win or lose, plenty of people to drink with or get cheap delish hot dogs with. Great place to blow off some steam. The only problem is getting home afterwards...cabs aren't friendly unless you live far away, trams don't take off until late, so come up with some kind of plan if you have an early start at work the next day!

In my adult life, I've been to 3 horse tracks. 1) Golden Gate Fields ... which is sort of depressing and they lure you there with dollar hot dogs. 2) Churchill Downs - not during Derby week unfortunately, but in corporate sponsored sections where I won a trifecta and impressed my CEO and gave me over confidence in picking a winner. 3) HK Jockey Club where my friend's aunt's horse won something something and wouldn't have to race again for 6 more months. Did you know that? The horses race only once every few months ... (noob that I am thought they raced a couple of times a night!) Anyway, this place is gigantic and really really crowded. I think I spent about 45 minutes just walking around outside trying to find the main entrance ... there are a lot of special entrances for VIPs. Not sure if it's year round, but there were booths set up all over the place celebrating Octoberfest (surely that's not year round). I ended up here my first night in Hong Kong so the last thing I wanted to eat was bratwurst, the beer hit the spot though. The bets here were all just slightly different than what I am used to .... and not being able to read or communicate with the locals didn't help. So I lost some money, drank some beer and got caught up in the excitement. Worth a visit!

Such a fun place to be in HK. Came here with a friend and we both enjoyed the lovely skyline view, winning on our first and only bet, and being able to buy beer right alongside with Chinese concession food. The crowd is young and beautiful and the staff was happy to explain how the betting works. It's only $10 HKD entrance fee and you can even pay with your octopus card!

Even if you hated horses, or were unreasonably terrified of them because you are a huge pussy, you'd still love this race track. This place is just a party. You need zero horse racing clues to enjoy yourself here. The first time I came, I was not expecting such an amazing view of the city from the track. Our goal was to find the buffet, but we never did. We said screw it, and joined the lively masses at ground level in the beer garden. When the race started, we had front row seats. By seats, I mean we were sandwiched in right on top of the gate. Close enough to feel the wave of thunder brought on by the horses hurdling themselves around the track. I mean, it was all very dramatic. People screaming, beer sloshing, hearts pounding, stomachs growling ... damn that illusive buffet.

The racecourse is a great place to hang out on a Wednesday night! I can definitely see myself coming here with a group of friends and having a fun time with some beers and food, maybe some betting. The admission is just $10HKD which is just a little over $1 USD...fun and affordable? I'm there! Glad I was able to make a visit on my trip here to HK. Highly recommend anyone visiting to stop by here if you're in the area on a Wednesday.

I've only been to the racecourses once and I don't actually know anything about betting, so I can't assure you that this review will be very useful to you especially if you're intending to go there to do some serious gambling. For most of us, it was our first times there so none of us really had any clue about betting. We arrived there at close to eight on empty stomachs - we assumed we could have dinner there, and well, we weren't entirely correct. Since we're not members and didn't want to be paying for the buffet dinner, our only option was the snack stand that sold finger foods like nachos and fries. They weren't cheap and there wasn't much of a variety to choose from. There were tons of stands selling different beers and we got a pitcher of Hoegaarden beer (and then returned for another one later on). One pitcher set us back around $270. So food-wise, a night at the races isn't cheap and there isn't much food to choose from. The stands for us to watch the horses from were really crowded and it was hard to find a spot for all five of us to squeeze. We couldn't get a very good view either because there was always people blocking us. I suppose if we were members and went to the members' only stand this wouldn't be a problem, but we weren't members so we had to make do. As for the actual betting, like I said, we had no idea what was the proper way to do it. We found a random guidebook lying on one of the tables and used the statistics of horses and their past placings to determine which to bet on. There are many modes of betting, but we just stuck with two. One was the 'win' method - we bet on one horse and if it places first we win, and the 'quinella place' method - we pick three horses and if at least two get a placing within the first three spots, we win (at least, that's what we gathered!) We only started betting at race 6 and it wasn't till our last race that we won. Subtracting all the money we had bet that night, our earnings were tiny in comparison, but it was a victory nonetheless! I would say that the horse races are a fun activity to come to with friends once in a while. The atmosphere is really cheery and there's nothing like having your eyes glued to the field, wondering if that horse will outrun the other and emerge victorious. I was a little hoarse at the end of it all from all that screaming actually! I however didn't like that the stands were so cramped and that food was so expensive and limited. I feel as though members would have a much, much better experience than non-members here which is a little unfair!

On a Wednesday night after work I cannot think of a better plan than heading to the Jockey Club to see horse races and, well, a drink. Wednesday is 'par excellence' the tourists/expats day at Happy Valley, and the atmosphere is amazing. Even if you don't like/have a clue about betting, everyone is welcome to join as it is more of a social gathering than anything else. My first impression of the horsecourse was about the scale of the construction, as I wasn't expecting such a big open up space in the middle of the city. I've always been there at night so this feeling was even enhanced by it being brightly lightened and the lively vibe. Most Wednesdays there have been some show going on, whether it was live music, or wine festival. I was there on a wine event and it was seriously packed. If you decide to stay at ground level, to take some pictures and buy some food or drink, you'll easily get into a party mood. On my second time a couple of us sat down in the stands where people were more concerned about their bets than having a good time. But it was cool to see the horses from afar or, actually, see the horses, and it gets really busy down at ground level and you may be lucky if you catch a good shot! The facilities are also pretty good - if you're a member you'll obviously get a better chance to see the races and bet for your horse, as member's area is placed separately in an upper floor inside the main building. Races happen both on Wednesday evenings or on the weekend (Saturday or Sunday afternoon) but if you've got friends over or just want to have a good time with friends, Wednesday is definitely the day to go!

friends brought me to the Gallop restaurant inside here for a nice meal. members bringing you to dinner is such a bonus!