The Jockey Club has postponed the second showcase meeting at its Conghua Racecourse in mainland China as a result of the political unrest that continues to plague Hong Kong.

After holding the first official meeting at its mainland facility in March, the Jockey Club had scheduled the second event for Saturday, October 26.

But on the same day Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor finally buckled to pressure and agreed to fully withdraw the controversial extradition bill, the Jockey Club conceded hosting a race meeting in China next month will not be possible.

“Given the current situation in Hong Kong, we concluded that it will be difficult for us to achieve this goal,” it said in a statement.

“After consultations with our partners in Conghua, we decided to postpone the second exhibition race day to next year. Further announcements will be made when the new date is confirmed.”

Hong Kong Jockey Club not immune from political tensions, will remain ‘vigilant’

The first Conghua meeting was hailed a success, as well as a sharp learning curve, and the Jockey Club plans to “organise this racing event on an ongoing basis”.

“The Hong Kong Jockey Club is committed to promoting Hong Kong’s world-class racing to the mainland public through our Conghua Racecourse and making contributions to the economic development of Conghua through tourism attraction with our exhibition race day,” the statement read.