Happy Valley Racecourse

The track was first built in 1845 to provide horse racing for the British in Hong Kong. Before it was built, the area was a swampland, but also the only flat ground suitable for horse racing on Hong Kong Island. To make way for the racecourse, the Hong Kong Government prohibited rice growing by villages in the surrounding area. The first race ran in December 1846. Over the years, horse racing became more and more popular among the Chinese residents.

On February 26, 1918, there was a tragic fire at the site and at least 590 people died. It is the fire with the highest casualties in Hong Kong history.

The track was rebuilt in 1995, and became a world-class horse racing facility. Several football, hockey and rugby fields are encircled by the horse racing track.