Horseracing network TVG is extending its coverage and pari-mutuel reach to Hong Kong.
The service, which is available to 36 million U.S. households, through a multiyear deal with Hong Kong Jockey Club, will begin televising equine action from the Happy Valley and Sha Tin racecourses. Linear and online coverage at TVG.com is scheduled to come out of the gate on April 6 (ET)/April 5 (PT).
Moreover, with integration technologies provided by Sportech Racing and Digital, TVG subscribers for the first time will be able to access commingled odds from the world’s largest pari-mutuel wagering pools. The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s pools currently average over $17 million per race.
With an average field size of 12.6 entries per race, the HKJC hosts fixtures from early September to early July. Happy Valley racing usually take place on Wednesday evenings Hong Kong time, while Sha Tin gallops on Sunday afternoons Hong Kong time.
For U.S. bettors, the first post time is typically 7:15 a.m. (ET)/4:15 a.m. (PT) on Wednesdays and 1 a.m. (ET) on Sundays and 10 p.m. (PT) Saturday from Sha Tin.
The live racing schedule is highlighted by the Longines Hong Kong International Races on the second Sunday of December, one of the world’s biggest and richest race days, which includes the Hong Kong Cup, Hong Kong Mile, Hong Kong Vase and Hong Kong Sprint, all Group 1 races on turf.
“We know that horse racing customers like large pools with large quality fields of horses to watch and wager on, and we are thrilled to deliver access to some of the best product available anywhere in the world to meet those desires,” said TVG executive vice president John Hindman. “With a television network in over 36 million households and our position as the largest advance deposit wagering provider in the US, TVG is uniquely situated to introduce quality international horse races to viewing audiences and wagering customers here. Simply put, our U.S. customers will have the wagering experience that has traditionally been available to them only two to three times a year in terms of pool sizes, now available to them every Hong Kong race day - more than 83 times a year.”
At the outset, TVG betting will center on win, place, quinella and tierce. The latter is the equivalent of the trifecta and accounts for 70% of total Hong Kong wagering Place betting in Hong Kong equates to Stateside show betting .
Past performance information on individual horses as well as an official program, video replays of all races and barrier trials, veterinary history and morning track work records of all horses are available at www.hkjc.com in English and Chinese
