Macau holds its final horse race, ending a tradition of more than 40 years

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After more than 40 years, Macau’s horse racing track hosted its final races last month. This brought an end to the sport in the former Portuguese colony.

Mai Wanzun, a student from mainland China in Macau, said she wanted to get a taste of the atmosphere: “We could come to see horse racing here in Macau, but not in mainland China.”

In January, the city’s government said it would end its contract with the Macau Jockey Club in April. The decision came at the request of the Macau Horse Race Company, which cited operational challenges as part of the reasons for the closure.

Horse racing in Macau has struggled with economic challenges in recent years, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. Its jockey club had racked up operating losses of more than US$311 million (HK$2.44 billion).

Under the termination arrangement, the horse racing firm pledged to arrange for transport of owners’ horses to other locations by March 2025, and handle the company’s employees according to the law.