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“ I had a good job with Gai , and I wasn ’ t ready . ” Newnham obtained his trainer ’ s license in 2016 and set up shop in Sydney , Australia . “ My grandfather was a jockey and trainer ,“ he explains , his salt-and-pepper hair brushed back atop a lean , tall jockey ’ s frame , his bright blue eyes wide open to a world they still seem to be discovering . “ My father was a journalist for 35 years for the Sydney Morning Herald , as a sports writer when I was a kid , then he moved into advertising after that . I started riding horses at 15 . Then I was a jockey for 20 years . I went to Korea and Macau at the time . Then I became Gai Waterhouse ’ s assistant trainer for five years and started training on my own in 2016 . Why not sooner ? I had a good job with Gai , and I wasn ’ t ready . I was a late bloomer !“ A late bloomer who has played his part well : regularly in the top 10 of the highly competitive New South Wales circuit , his stable has accumulated more than 400 victories , including over 40 at black-type level . So it wasn ’ t a lack of success that prompted this 55-year-old to leave his native country for Hong Kong ... “ It went pretty well in Australia ,“ he admits . “ We had 40 , I think 43 Stakes winners in the six years I trained there . I had up to 70 horses in training , but I probably averaged 50 to 60 in my barn , which suited me . However , training in Australia has become a huge operation , with leading stables having three , sometimes up to four hundred horses in their string . So I had to either expand considerably or come here . And I much prefer training fifty to sixty , even seventy horses rather than hundreds . In Australia , you end up like the CEO of a training company ! That ’ s not what I wanted . I love horses , I still ride trackwork , that ’ s why I seized this opportunity . I also already had quite a few Hong
Kong-based owners . So the transition was quite easy “.
“ It ’ s harder to make the older ones win . ” The quality of the horses entrusted to a new trainer in Hong Kong is decisive . However , upon arrival , new trainers often inherit horses that are jaded , lacking in morale , or discarded by their predecessors . Newcomers are therefore working with whatever comes their way . Nevertheless , it is during this thankless period that they are judged and that the quality and quantity of the young horses that will be entrusted to them is established . “ The end of the season was very good because the quality of the horses I brought in improved ,“ explains Mark . “ I also took the time to discover the system and how it works . I gradually gained a pretty good handle on the situation . Once I was comfortable with how everything works , we were ready to really hit the ground running this new season . One of the things that really helped me was being able to send horses to Conghua ( the alternative training centre to Sha Tin racecourse , about 200km from Hong Kong , editor ’ s note ), as it gave us many more training options . We were able to make more use of the uphill grass tracks , the water walkers , etc . Older horses like a bit of variety and it ’ s much quieter there . I prefer to have the younger horses and those who have recently arrived at Sha Tin , because I keep a closer eye on them until I really know where to go with them . But I ’ m also happy to win with a youngster as with an old stager , because it ’ s actually harder to win with the older ones . They are more difficult to place . You really have to think differently with these horses because they ’ ve been in the system for a while . So you have to change something , try to get a result , but the reward is particularly appreciated when it works “. With 67 horses in training today , including 28 at Conghua and about a third unraced in Hong Kong , Mark Newnham is still at the dawn of a new career and a season that is already a great success .
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WINFRIED ENGELBRECHT- BRESGES : “ REPOSITIONING RACING AND WAGERING ON THEIR STRATEGIC DIMENSION AND UNIQUE CHARACTER “
Every year on the eve of the Longines International Races , Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges , CEO of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Chairman of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities , paints a broad picture of horseracing activity in Hong Kong and around the world . This year is no exception , with plenty of lessons , projects , and warnings ...
Revival of Racing in Hong Kong “ All racing jurisdictions need to be aware that the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly changed our customer behaviour . It is crucial to understand these changes and adapt our offering to retain our existing customer base and attract new fans . Last year , our local turnover fell by 7 to 8 % on Hong Kong races , partially
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