Hong Kong Jockey Club unveils digital entertainment and new dining venues at Sha Tin

Hong Kong Jockey Club unveils new dining venues at Sha Tin - table service with a view at Izakaya

The Hong Kong Jockey Club has unveiled a stunning new racecourse arrival experience at its Sha Tin Racecourse, as well as interactive digital games focused on the horse racing industry and two brand new dining spaces.

Champions Connection welcomes racegoers at Grandstand II of the racecourse with an immersive, equine-inspired digital welcome. Digitally rendered thoroughbred horses are displayed on columns and there are further 3D digital displays of legendary racehorses in virtual stables, eager to interact with racegoers. They include three-time Horse of the Year, Golden Sixty. Opposite are showcases of six elite jockeys; visitors can find out more about the achievements of both horses and jockeys via wall plaques and QR codes. 

And on the second floor there’s a specially commissioned mobile horse structure, while the fourth floor is home to Hong Kong’s first full-sized robotic horse.

Philip Chen, the Club’s director of property, said he hoped the installations would deepen racegoers’ understanding of thoroughbred horses and their appreciation of Hong Kong racing. “As a second Sha Tin Racecourse Entrance Hub, Champions Connection will ignite arriving visitors’ curiosity and sense of discovery,” he said. 

Hong Kong Jockey Club unveils new dining venues at Sha Tin - the digital parade ring at Fudo Town food hall

Champions Connection will link racegoers to a series of venues in Grandstand II, including Genso, a brand new four-storey dining, sports and entertainment venue. Visitors can take part in immersive digital racing experiences and activities that combine physical and digital entertainment. Maze Race is an interactive journey of discovery following the history of horse racing with racing-related puzzles. And at the Gensoverse visitors can take a virtual ride on one of Hong Kong’s legendary horses via Extended Reality (XR) technology. And (natch) there’s an AI photo booth for snapping racing-themed selfies.

Visitors can also dine at Genso’s two new restaurants, including a relaxed vibe at Fudo Town food hall on the third floor or a sit-down meal at Izakaya restaurant on the fourth floor. 

Genso also builds on the digital enhancements that were introduced at Happy Valley Racecourse last season, including a digital parade ring featuring full-sized horses and three interactive AI Horse Selection Stations displaying real-time horse racing data. 

Champions Connection and Genso open on October 12. 

Levels 3/F - 4M/F, Grandstand II, Sha Tin Racecourse (Entrance 6), Sha Tin, Hong Kong. Bookings are open online now for Fudo Town and Izakaya (it is also advised to pre-book the Maze Race). Please note that visitors must be aged 18 years and over due to Hong Kong betting regulations.