The Macau Jockey Club (MJC) said Tuesday it will set up a “Horse Transportation Grant Scheme” to help horse owners pay for the cost of transporting their horses out of Macau following news of the Club’s impending closure.
As reported by IAG, the MJC will cease all horse racing activities on 1 April, however many horse owners were left dissatisfied with arrangements around the fate of their horses and demanded compensation.
In response to IAG’s inquiries in the matter, the MJC revealed it will pay owners up to a maximum of HK$200,000 if the horse owner transports the horse to a foreign country.
“On January 26, we held a briefing session with horse owners to provide them with information on our handling and arrangements for horses after the suspension of racing, and to receive their views on various aspects,” the MJC said in its written response. “The views of the owners have been submitted to the Board of Directors.
“After careful study, discussion and evaluation, the Board of Directors has made a decision accordingly and replied to the horse owners on 2 February.”
The MJC added that, following cessation of horse racing activities, horse owners have two choices: to retire their horses, horse owners can choose to give up the ownership of the horses and transfer them to MJC without paying any maintenance fee; or to export the horses, horse owners can choose to ship them to other countries and pay a monthly maintenance fee until the horses leave Macau, equates to MOP$8,000 per month.
However, MJC has now set up the “Horse Transportation Grant Scheme” to help horse owners pay for the cost of transporting their horses. According to MJC, the scheme will provide subsidies on a reimbursement basis, with a maximum of HK$200,000 if the horse is being transported to a foreign country, and a maximum of HK$30,000 if the horse is being transported to a designated place in mainland China.
MJC has also announced that the countries and regions to which horses can be exported are Mainland China (Zhuhai or Beijing quarantine), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), the United States and European countries.
MJC will provide horse management services from 31 March 2024 onwards.
The MJC said that “as the legal owner of the horse, according to the Macau Animal Protection Law, the owner is the keeper of the horse and has the responsibility to take care of the horse, including the handling of the horse’s servitude, and the Jockey Club will authorize the owner to appoint a platform to take care of the horse.”
