Blog | Hans Ebert

DO YOU SENSE MAGIC IN THE AIR, HONG KONG?

First things first: When Joao Moreira won the 2012 Longines International Jockeys Championship, this was the first time many of us in Hong Kong had ever seen the person known as “the magic man” ride though he was champion jockey in neighbouring Singapore. Never had many of us who are not “horsey” people seen a rider so in harmony with a horse and so aerodynamically born to ride. It really was wonderful to watch something almost balletic. I remember after the races that night,

Hans Ebert

4 min read

ELLIS WONG AND ACCENTUATING THE POSITIVE!

Always having strong links to Hong Kong and having done my part to enhance quite a few different things in the city, as a writer, I enjoy shining a light on those uplifting moments whether it be the successes of champion Hong Kong born swimmer Siobhan Haughey, the world famous HK Rugby Sevens or those achievements in horse racing that might travel under the radar or get lost in the bouillabaisse of bollocks that way too often raises their heads. When writing about the politic

Hans Ebert

3 min read

A HAPPY NEW TOURIST AREA FOR HONG KONG? WHY NOT?

What no one knew at the time, including the person I was living with at the time was an idea racing through my head when being shown the beer garden at Happy Valley racecourse and which I turned into the Happy Wednesday brand for the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Some things are best kept in one’s hip pocket and being taught when in advertising that timing is everything. With the Hong Kong I once knew and where I met and married the American Wrangler girl and our daughter was born

Hans Ebert

2 min read

WHY HONG KONG CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP BANKING ON A ONE TRICK PONY.

A former colleague in advertising revisiting Hong Kong after over twenty years was mentioning just how much the city- and everything in it- has changed, and not for the better either. Having been invited to Riyadh for the running of the Saudi Cup and watching Japan’s Forever Young win and meeting the team behind this equine superstar, we talked about the horse racing in Hong Kong, which he had seen up close and personal last Thursday at the bang a gong Chinese New Year’s Day

Hans Ebert

7 min read

Forever Young and the Mr Miyagi and Karate Kid Effect

Gawd knows, we need Feel Good stories and we got it on Saturday at Riyadh when Japan’s wonderful Forever Young dish ran away with the spoon and the Saudi Cup for the second consecutive year. Ridden by Ryusei Sakai and trained by the almost magical Yoshito Yahagi, the win was expected, but no one gets tired of fairytales no matter how old and cynical one gets. Before continuing, a bit of history, especially as we have entered the Lunar New Year of the Horse… My favourite horse

Hans Ebert

3 min read

BLABBALOO AND THE ARF ARF PEOPLE!!!

What can one say about the dulcet tones and The Online Voice of Australian racing that is Gareth Hall? Entertaining, definitely, and like a dog with a bone, when after a story where he might sniff a bet, he becomes as hard working and committed as James Brown about gettin’ it on up and getting on it. Particularly arresting is when he basically salivates whenever interviewing a jockey or trainer for even a morsel of what might be considered a tip, something he turned into a fi

BLABALOO!!!

3 min read

BY POPULAR DEMAND!!! THE RETURN OF ARF ARF!!! MORE HOWLING AT THE MOON!!!

“Billionaires' and Royalist clubs trying to attract the mass market... interesting”. The problem is that it’s 2026 and there’s still the same old problem, and instead of this problem going away, there are actually more problems, because those given the reins to solve problems, perhaps don’t wish to as opposed to not knowing what to do next. Why? Because maybe actually solving problems might make those who have been leading the band like Guy Lombardo did might feel that they c

Hans Ebert

3 min read