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Bringing style and glamour to Hong Kong horse racing at Sha Tin Racecourse this October
Picture the scene: guests resplendent in their finery—men in black tie and women in stylish cocktail dresses—promenading effortlessly, sampling food and drink, as well as thrilling entertainment. That scene is set to become reality at Sha Tin Racecourse on Gentlemen’s Bow Tie Raceday, an event filled with glitz and glamour that proves there’s far more to Hong Kong horse racing than sport.
On October 15, The Hong Kong Jockey Club will host an extravagant celebration of horse racing, fashion and the true meaning of being a gentleman.
With the participation of Mirror singer Ian Chan, who will perform live at the event, jockey Harry Bentley and trainer Frankie Lor, we’ve come up with a set of “Gentlemen’s Rules”, which they have demonstrated for us in an accompanying video.
The rules are a simple code to live by, allowing anyone to transform themselves into a bona fide gentleman, if only for the day.
Rule one is a classical interpretation of chivalry, stating simply: Ladies First. The second exemplifies the basic courtesy any gentleman should show to a companion and highlights the importance of: Respect for your Partner.
Rule three holds added importance for a jockey but is equally essential for an urbane gentleman about town: Be Well Equipped. The next tenet of the gentlemen’s manifesto is to develop an appreciation for the finer things in life by Elevating Your Tastes. Another rule, which alludes to basic good manners that anybody can practice, is to Make Eye Contact.
One Hong Kong gentleman who understands these guidelines perfectly is Chan. “Trainers and jeans say ‘man’ but a suit and tie say ‘gentleman’. This is the difference between a man and a gentleman,” he says. “In my father’s generation, being a gentleman was taken very seriously. These days, it’s an outdated concept to many people, but I still hold these values dear.”
For The Hong Kong Jockey Club trainer Lor, fashion is also vital to how he presents himself. “Getting dressed up is a big part of going to the races. And fashion plays a big part in a race day, so I like to look my best,” Lor says. The sixth of the gentlemen’s rules is to Dress Well—and with more than 40 years of experience in racing, Lor sees the clothes he wears as a form of respect towards the Club, the horse owners and the public.
“It is necessary to dress appropriately and elegantly each time. Fashion, to me, is a way to represent myself. I believe that the true character of a gentleman includes substance, cultivation, demeanour and a good attitude.”
Manners maketh the man: impeccable manners can be the cornerstone of a gentleman’s character. Rule seven is another essential ingredient of how a gentleman is perceived in the world; to always Be on Time is to afford others a basic courtesy: so simple yet so important. “Being a gentleman—to me—means being the best version of myself, being polite and respectful,” says six-time Qatar champion jockey Harry Bentley. Growing up in West Sussex in the UK, Bentley began his career at the age of 16 and quickly learnt the ropes – both on and off the track.