The Silk Road Journal · Buying · Hong Kong
How to Own a Racehorse in Hong Kong: HKJC Ownership in Plain Words
In most racing countries, owning a horse needs money and a trainer. In Hong Kong it also needs the Club's permission, a ballot ticket and patience. Here is how the door actually opens.
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Facts are sourced at the end and were checked on 25 October 2026. No betting tips, nothing here is financial, tax or legal advice, and no horse in this article is for sale.
To own a racehorse in Hong Kong you must be approved by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, which runs all racing there. In practice that means Club membership (owners join as Racing Members; Hong Kong residence is no longer required), and then a permit to import a horse from the Club's yearly ballot. In 2026, 792 applications went in for 460 permits (120 PP for horses that have raced, 340 PPG for unraced horses). Since October 2022 the Club has also admitted a small number of selected overseas owner-breeders, as persons, not companies. Keeping a horse costs a capped HK$30,000 a month in basic livery.
Do I have to be a Hong Kong Jockey Club member to own a horse?
Yes. Ownership in Hong Kong goes through the Club. Owners join as Racing Members, and a membership application needs proposers from existing members.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club is the racing authority, the racecourse operator and the betting operator in one. There is no separate owners' licence from a government body; the Club decides who may own.
- Membership first. Owners are Club members. Reports on the overseas-owner route describe owners joining as Racing Members, with sponsorship from an existing Voting Member.
- Residence. Reports say Hong Kong residence is no longer a requirement in itself; the Club still decides each case.
- Fees. Entrance fees and subscriptions change and are set by the Club. We do not quote old figures; check official site.
If you are in mainland China, our page for clients in China explains where a horse you own can race.
How do I get a horse once I am a member?
Through the Club's import permit ballot, once a year. The permit says whether you may import a PP (a horse that has raced) or a PPG (an unraced horse).
Hong Kong has no breeding industry, so every new racehorse is imported, and only with a permit. The numbers for 2026:
| 2026 permit ballot | Figure |
|---|---|
| Applications | 792 (reported) |
| Permits issued | 460: 120 PP and 340 PPG |
| Reserve lists published | 4 June 2026 |
| Horses an owner may race | Up to 7 (raised in 2025) |
The full mechanics, rating minimums and incentives are in Hong Kong PP and PPG permits explained. Permit holders can also bid at the Club's own auction: see the Hong Kong International Sale guide.
The Silk Road Letter
Twice a month: the sales worth watching, one buying tip and one real market number (plus the odd catalogue joke). Free with it: our 2026-27 sale calendar (PDF) and a one-page guide to what a racehorse really costs. We email a link to confirm first. Unsubscribe in one click.
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Can someone who does not live in Hong Kong own a horse there?
A few can. Since October 2022 the Club has invited selected overseas owner-breeders, as individuals, not companies, judged on their record in racing and breeding.
When the Club opened the door in 2022, its chief executive described a "very cautious approach" for "very selective" international owner-breeders: persons, not corporations. Its racing director said selection looks at track record, integrity, history, involvement in breeding and a commitment to buying potential world-class horses. Later reports describe the pathway as favouring owners with Group race success and a breeding operation; well-known breeders from Japan, South Africa and China were among the early names.
Honest translation: if you are new to racing and live abroad, Hong Kong is the hardest place in the world to start. A first horse in Australia, Europe, the UAE or Malaysia, with a record you can show later, is the realistic route. Our guide for Singapore owners after Kranji compares those options.
How much does it cost to own a racehorse in Hong Kong?
The horse is the big number. Keeping it is easier to predict: basic livery is capped at HK$30,000 a month, and each new import carries a reported HK$100,000 payment to the Club's retired racehorse programme.
| Line | HK$ | Roughly |
|---|---|---|
| Basic livery fee (capped from 2025) | HK$30,000 a month | US$3,827 a month (about HK$30,000, S$4,890, ¥600,000, RM15,628) |
| A full year of basic livery | HK$360,000 | US$45,918 |
| Import payment, per new horse (reported) | HK$100,000 | US$12,755 |
| A PP or PPG bought abroad | Depends on the horse and the rating it needs | Budgets with us from US$50,000; a horse for Hong Kong as a PP usually costs much more |
Vets, farriers, transport, insurance and Club charges come on top. The Hong Kong International Sale averaged about HK$4.76 million a horse in 2026, which gives a sense of the market. Five countries compared: racehorse ownership costs in 2027.
Currency lines are approximate, at mid-market rates on 25 October 2026 (1 US$ = about HK$7.84, S$1.28, ¥157, RM4.08). We quote our fee in US dollars, in writing.
Who finds and buys the horse?
You, your Hong Kong trainer and, if you like, an agent who searches the world. Only Club-licensed trainers train in Hong Kong, and the trainer must agree to take the horse.
- Trainer first. Stable places are limited; the trainer's yes comes before the horse.
- Brief. Permit type, rating target, distance, budget in HK$ and US$.
- Search. Sales and private sellers in Europe, Australia and elsewhere. We send a private shortlist with form, ratings, video and vetting.
- Vet and criteria check. An independent vet, and a check against the Club's import criteria.
- Pay and ship. You pay the seller directly, by bank transfer. Then export, quarantine and the flight. Our racehorse transport page covers the travel.
More on how we work with permit holders: Hong Kong PP horses: private purchase shortlists.
A plain word before you buy
We cannot promise a win, a rating, a permit or a price. Nobody honest can, and we never give betting tips. Owning a racehorse is a passion, not a way to make money. What we can promise is an honest view of your options, a careful worldwide search, independent vets, a written limit and plain reports by email. Licensed trainers train; we help you choose one and supervise the plan.
Ready to talk about a horse? Email us first.
Email us your budget, where you want to race and when. We reply within 24 hours. If it fits, we source the best horses from all over the world, check them with independent vets and negotiate to your written limit. Budgets from US$50,000.
Email info@silkroadbloodstock.com first, from anywhere in the world. Phone +971 52 311 2385 second. WhatsApp as backup.
5% fee (min US$5,000), agreed in writing. You pay the seller or sale company directly, by bank transfer; your money never goes through us. If we are ever paid by both sides, both are told in writing first.
Already own a horse, or want to sell one?
Selling a horse that could suit a buyer in Asia or the Gulf? We find the right buyer, worldwide, and the fee is paid only if it sells.
Related guides
- Hong Kong racing calendar 2026-27
- Hong Kong International Races 2026
- Japanese racehorses for sale
- Malaysia horse racing 2026-27
- Macau horse racing: what happened
- Hong Kong PP and PPG permits explained · Singapore owners after Kranji · Buying a European racehorse from Japan
The Silk Road Letter
Twice a month: the sales worth watching, one buying tip and one real market number (plus the odd catalogue joke). Free with it: our 2026-27 sale calendar (PDF) and a one-page guide to what a racehorse really costs. We email a link to confirm first. Unsubscribe in one click.
Frequently asked questions
How do I become a racehorse owner in Hong Kong?
You must be approved by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Owners are Club members (Racing Members), and to bring in a horse you need an import permit from the Club's yearly ballot: a PP for a horse that has raced or a PPG for an unraced horse. In 2026 the ballot issued 460 permits.
Can a foreigner or non-resident own a racehorse in Hong Kong?
Only in a small number of cases. Since October 2022 the Hong Kong Jockey Club has admitted selected overseas owner-breeders, as individuals rather than companies, judged on their record in racing and breeding. Hong Kong residence alone is no longer the test, but the Club decides each case.
How much does it cost to keep a racehorse in Hong Kong?
The Hong Kong Jockey Club capped the basic livery fee at HK$30,000 a month from 2025, about HK$360,000 a year. Each new imported horse also carries a reported HK$100,000 payment to the Club's retired racehorse programme. Vets, farriers, transport and insurance are extra.
How many horses can one owner have in Hong Kong?
Owners may now race up to 7 horses, after the Hong Kong Jockey Club raised the limit in 2025. Each new horse still needs an import permit.
Does Silk Road Bloodstock get Hong Kong permits or train horses?
No. Only the Hong Kong Jockey Club issues permits and approves owners, and only Club-licensed trainers train. We search worldwide for a PP or PPG that fits your permit and your trainer, arrange independent vetting and negotiate to your written limit. Our fee is 5%, minimum US$5,000, agreed in writing.
Spotted an error? Email info@silkroadbloodstock.com and we will fix it within 48 hours.
Sources
Checked 25 October 2026. Rules, fees and dates are set by each racing authority and sale company and can change; always check the official site. Figures from news reports are as reported. Past prices are not a forecast.
- Turf Talk / Asian Racing Report, October 2022: "New dawn in Hong Kong racing" (first non-resident owner-breeders; persons, not corporations; selection criteria)
- The Owner Breeder: Racing around the world, Hong Kong (Racing Member route, sponsorship by a Voting Member, residence no longer required)
- Idol Horse: overseas owner permit pathway (emphasis on Group race success and breeding)
- The Straight, 2026: 792 applications for 460 permits
- Hong Kong Jockey Club: horse import permit ballot
- HKJC Racing News, 28 February 2025: ownership boosts (up to 7 horses, livery fee cap HK$30,000 a month)
- Thoroughbred Daily News: ownership benefits enhanced by HKJC
- TTR AusNZ, 5 July 2026: Hong Kong International Sale average HK$4,762,500