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On Saturday, horses took part in a race for the last time in China's Macao Special Administrative Region. This ended a more than 40-year-long tradition of horse racing in the former Portuguese colony 50 kilometers west of Hong Kong. This picture from March 17 shows a man placing a bet at the Macao Jockey Club.
Photo: Isaac Lawrence / AFP
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Macau is the only place in the People's Republic of China where casinos are allowed. The city had developed into a global gambling metropolis since the turn of the millennium. Before the corona pandemic, Macau's casino sales were three times as high as in Las Vegas. But recently fewer and fewer guests have come to the horse races. The very last race on Saturday also took place in front of half-empty grandstands - it was similar at this race on March 17th.
Photo: Isaac Lawrence / AFP
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Horse racing in Macau has been barely profitable in recent years and has not yet recovered from the effects of the pandemic. The Jockey Club had accumulated operating losses of over $311 million, the Macau News Agency reported.
Photo: Isaac Lawrence / AFP
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As part of the termination agreement, the horse racing company committed to transporting the racehorses to other locations by March 2025. In neighboring Hong Kong, horse racing remains popular and profitable.
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In recent years, the Macao Jockey Club has organized two races per week, on Fridays and weekends. The horses ran clockwise on sand either a short distance of 1200 meters, the middle distance of 1400 meters or 1800 meters as the longest distance.
Photo: Isaac Lawrence / AFP
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Since the Jockey Club announced the end of racing in January, at least a few more visitors have come again - probably for nostalgic reasons.
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Visitors to a horse race in Macao on March 17th.
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Guests at the racetrack can watch their favorites on video monitors.
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A statement from the Macao Special Administrative Region government said the sport was in financial difficulties and was no longer able to meet the "current development needs of society."
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The Southeast Asian city-state of Singapore, where many ethnic Chinese live, has also announced that it will no longer hold horse races. The last race is scheduled to take place there in October this year.
Photo: Isaac Lawrence / AFP
boy/AP/AFP