Shanghai Race Club
The Shanghai Race Club is the original horse racing organization for Shanghai, China. When the first horse race meeting in Shanghai took place during 1848 the Shanghai Race Club was known as the Race Committee of the Shanghai Recreation Club. In 1855, it became a Club. In 1862, it detached itself from the Shanghai Recreation Club to become an independent body. The Shanghai Race Club closed down in 1941 and was reopened in 2008 under the leadership of the current Chairman, Byron Constable.[citation needed]
In 2013, the Shanghai Race Club updated charter states "...the Club exists to bring racehorse ownership to every single person in Mainland China and aims to achieve this through smart use of technology and creation of a trusted commercial environment".[citation needed]
Facilities
The Shanghai Race Club owned the race track in the center of Shanghai. The People's Park and the adjacent People's Square in central Shanghai are (taken together) still in the shape of the original track. This racetrack, opened in 1862, was the 4th race track owned by The Shanghai Race Club. The Race Club building with its imposing tower was the most sumptuous of any such club in the world. The Grand Stand was reputedly the largest in the world, and probably was. The turf was described as "smooth as a billiard table". The original Race Club building still stands on the side of the park at the People's Square. It is now the Shanghai Art Museum.
Racedays
The Spring and Autumn races days in Shanghai organized by the Shanghai Race Club were so popular as to become holidays. These two race meetings were described as "The Grand Festivals of Shanghai".
Trophies and cups
In the 1860s the most notable trophy was the Champions Stakes, a forced entry race for all winners during the two-day race meeting. In 1884 it was renamed the Mafoo and Champions' race. In 1927, it was renamed the Shaforce Challenge Cup and Champions' Stakes.
Notable members
- Dr William Jardine (Tartan Stables)
- John Dent (Scarlet Stables)
- Thomas Chaye Beale (Clerk of the Course)
- William Keswick
- Sir John Keswick
- Henry Morriss
- Ada Law
- Alexander Dallas
- Frank Dallas
- George Dallas
- Coll McLean
- Sir Paul Chater
- John MacGregor (Strath Stables)
- David Sassoon "Morn" (Leviathan Stables)
- Sir Victor Sassoon "Eve"
- Sir Raymond Toeg "Sir John"
- Hormusjee Naorojee Mody
- J. D. Humphreys
- Henry Sylva
- Sir Ellis Kadoorie
- C. R. "Chuck" Burkill
- A. W. "Bertie" Burkhill (Chairman of the Stewards 1927)
- Edward Ezra
- Jack Liddell
- Billie Liddle + Vera Mc Bain (We Two Stables)
- Major Frank Sutton
- Lambert Dumbar (Bay Stables)
- Eric Moller (Moller & Co.)
- A. S. Henchman "Hench"
- Eric Cumine
- Byron Constable (Current Chairman)
Notable horses
- Picadilly (Paul Chater), winner of the 1884 Champions Cup won
- Hero (David Sassoon), 3 times successive winner of the Champions' Cup from 1890
- Silky Light (Eric Moller), the fastest Shanghai horse to win the Hong Kong Champion's Cup and Hong Kong Triple Crown
- Wheatcroft (Jack Liddel), three times winner of the Champions' Cup in the 1920s