The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) is enhancing its digital fan experience, aiming to create a “ChatGPT version of horse racing”, the racing track management commented.
According to the South China Morning Post, at the Asian Racing Conference, HKJC executive director Andrew Harding emphasized that fan engagement is crucial for the club’s future amid growing competition from other sports and digital entertainment.
The 40th ARC, currently underway in Sapporo and running until September 1st, features an extensive program centered on racing breeding, business leaders and key stakeholders.
Dennis Hau, the club’s executive director of customer strategy, noted in the conference that current offerings are insufficient and highlighted plans to introduce innovative features such as AI-generated race cards and augmented reality horse performance.
The club will also open a new restaurant at the Happy Valley Racecourse, designed to provide a more immersive experience for younger fans. Additionally, discussions highlighted the need for gamification to attract younger audiences, similar to successful strategies in Japan.
The HKJC reported a total turnover of HK$134.7 billion ($17.3 billion) for the 2023/24 season, slightly down 4.5 percent from HK$141.1 billion ($18.1 billion) in the previous year.
This week, the Asian Racing Federation (ARF) re-elected Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the current CEO of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), as its Chair. Masayuki Goto and Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi continue as Vice-Chairs.
