Farewell Golden Sixty: Hong Kong Star Heads To Retirement In Japan

The Hong Kong Jockey Club hosted a farewell ceremony for three-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty, who was recently retired, at Sha Tin on Sunday, marking the champion's final public appearance.

Scores of racegoers converged at the Parade Ring for a parting shot after Race 5 – the Class 4 Golden Sixty Handicap, won by apprentice Britney Wong aboard Cheval Valiant, before Golden Sixty heads to Japan for retirement.

At the farewell ceremony for Golden Sixty, jockey Vincent Ho and the 9-year-old Australian-bred Medaglia d'Oro gelding alongside trainer Francis Lui engaged with fans and expressed gratitude for their support at the Parade Ring.

Hong Kong Jockey Club Chairman Michael Lee presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to owner Stanley Chan in recognition of Golden Sixty’s accomplishments.

Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges also presented a commemorative saddle cloth to Chan, trainer Francis Lui, and jockey Vincent Ho.

Chan presented a framed Golden Sixty horseshoe to Club Chairman Michael Lee as a special gift.

At the end of the ceremony, Lee, Engelbrecht-Bresges, Executive Director of Racing Andrew Harding, Chan, Lui, Ho, senior work rider Alex Yu, stable assistant Gilbert Lau and the stable team gathered to pose with Golden Sixty.

Golden Sixty was produced by the Kentucky-bred Distorted Humor mare Gaudeamus, who was unraced.

An unprecedented 26-time winner in Hong Kong, Golden Sixty’s accolades include: Horse of the Year (2020/21, 2021/22 & 2022/23), Most Popular Horse of the Year (2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22 & 2022/23), Champion Miler (2020/21, 2021/22 & 2022/23), Champion Four-Year-Old (2019/20) and Champion Middle-Distance Horse (2020/21).