The Hong Kong Jockey Club's 2025/226 racing season kicked off on the 7th at Sha Tin Racecourse. The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Carrie Lam, attended the opening ceremony and rang the gong symbolizing the start of the new season. At the opening ceremony on that day, Li Jiachao and Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Ying Jiabai participated in the traditional lion dance finishing touch ceremony. After a spectacular lion dance performance, Panton, who won the Hong Kong champion jockey title for the eighth time last season, led more than 20 riders to meet the audience. Finally, as Li Jiachao struck the gong, the new horse season officially began. On the first day of the competition, a total of 10 matches were held, among which the third "Hong Kong Chief Executive Cup" match was particularly eye-catching. In this 1200 meter race, the "Jiaying Gaosheng" trained by trainer David Heath and ridden by Panton successfully defended their championship title, marking their thirteenth consecutive victory. After the game, Li Jiachao presented a trophy to the team of "Jiaying Gaosheng". On that day, there was continuous heavy rain at Sha Tin Racecourse, but there were still over 40000 spectators in attendance, including about 7000 tourists from mainland China. The new facilities "Lianhui" and "Tianma Post" at Sha Tin Racecourse have also been put into operation on the first day of the new season, integrating multiple innovative digital technologies, which have been widely welcomed by the audience. The new Hong Kong horse racing season has a total of 88 race days, with Sunday races held at Sha Tin Racecourse and Wednesday night races held at Happy Valley Racecourse, except for some holidays. (New Society)