Lifestyle See and do

A day at the races

Written by Ben Blaschke

The Macau Jockey Club played host to the biggest day on Macau’s racing calendar on Saturday with the running of the HK$2.6 million “SJM” Macau Derby.

The single most prestigious race in Macau’s annual racing calendar, Derby Day attracts a diverse and colorful crowd to the track each year with the WGM team among those celebrating in style in 2015. Despite the overcast conditions, the rain managed to hold off for the duration of the seven race card and a great time was had by all – even though not all of us were successful in picking some winners!

This year’s Macau Derby also represented the 13th consecutive year the race has been sponsored by SJM with Directors including Dr Ambrose So and Ms Angela Leong on hand to present the trophy to the winning jockey and trainer.

Trainer Joe Lau (left) is presented the trophy by CEO of SJM Dr Amrose So after "The Alfonso" won the 2015 Macau Derby

Trainer Joe Lau (left) is presented the trophy by CEO of SJM Dr Amrose So after "The Alfonso" won the 2015 Macau Derby

The second jewel – although by far the richest – in Macau’s prestigious Triple Crown, this year’s race saw 12 horses fighting it out for the HK$1.3 million first prize with “The Alfonso” storming home to win by almost six lengths.

Ridden by Australian jockey Nash Rawiller and trained by Macau local Joe Lau, “The Alfonso” will now be looking to join an elite crowd to have won two of the three Triple Crown races when it contests the Macau Gold Cup next month. He finished seventh in the Macau Guineas in March.

The Macau Derby was first run in 1992 but only became part of the Triple Crown in 2009. It has also evolved into an iconic event on Macau’s social calendar and it’s great to see SJM continue to support the race after first coming on board back in 2003.