Senior Club Officials met with Hong Kong's racehorse Trainers at their annual pre-season gathering this morning at Sha Tin for an update on a number of issues relevant to the new campaign.

Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the Club's Chief Executive Officer, wished the Trainers every success in 2007/08 and said their performance would enjoy greater visibility now that Hong Kong racing will be simulcast across the United States from this Sunday's first meeting, thereby establishing the world's largest commingled betting pools on horseracing.

Echoing these sentiments, Executive Director, Racing, Mr William A Nader added that the Club wished to build on the momentum created by last term's upswing in betting turnover and attendance and he called on the trainers to co-operate closely with the Club's management to achieve this end.

As regards racing operations, the process of weighing horses on raceday shall be discontinued from the start of the new season. As such, horses' weights will only be recorded on declaration day or on Friday in case of a Sunday meeting.

"It was a tough decision, but we had lengthy consultations with all the relevant people and in the interests of both the horses and the sport, our conclusion was that the risks outweighed the benefits," Mr Nader said.

"The difference between the weights on declaration is typically less than 12lbs and given the stress that it was causing several horses - also resulting in late scratchings - we felt it best to stick solely to the declaration day weights."

Chief Stipendiary Steward, Mr Jamie Stier, reiterated the change in the policy in announcing riding instructions and called on trainers to ensure their horses perform as consistently as possible.

Horses that have suffered bleeding attacks would henceforth be barred from the main training facilities for one month instead of two months as in the past. This, Mr Stier said, was to reduce the amount of downtime faced by horses before preparing for their return to the track. The three-month ban on first time bleeders would remain in place.

Mr Stier also said horses diagnosed for the first time with a post-race heart irregularity will be forced to barrier trial and undergo an official veterinary examination before its next start. A second diagnosis of a heart irregularity would entail a six-month ban and third finding would mean compulsory retirement.

Mr John Ridley, Head of Racing Operations, discussed trackwork and stabling arrangements and said the new bridle path at Sha Tin would open next Monday, September 10, to enable horses to switch off and relax during trackwork hours.

The heads of both the Club's Regulatory and Clinical Veterinary Services - Dr Brian Stewart and Dr Christopher Riggs - also briefed those present. Dr Stewart offered an update of the Equine Influenza outbreak in Australia and Japan.

Mr Nigel Gray, Head of Handicapping and Race Planning, rounded off the meeting by stipulating a revised closing time for entries of 10am from 11am as previous so that racing fans can source the information earlier.