Executive Director of Racing Operations, Tracks, and Racing Facilities, Stephen Higgins, has officially announced the track selection arrangements for each raceday in September and October 2026.
During the opening phase of the new season, track bias and rail movements across both racecourses—alongside the introduction of All-Weather Track (AWT) races—will directly impact race dynamics and horse positioning. To assist racing enthusiasts with early strategy and form analysis, here is the complete breakdown of track configurations for Sha Tin and Happy Valley throughout September and October:
Sha Tin Racecourse Track Arrangements
Following the season opener in September, Sha Tin will utilize the Turf tracks sequentially from A to C+3, while introducing All-Weather Track (AWT) races starting from late September:
September 6 (Sunday): A Course
September 13 (Sunday): B Course
September 20 (Sunday): C Course / AWT
September 27 (Sunday): C+3 Course / AWT
October 1 (Thursday): A Course
October 4 (Sunday): B Course / AWT
October 11 (Sunday): C Course / AWT
October 19 (Monday): C+3 Course
October 25 (Sunday): A Course
October 28 (Wednesday): AWT
Happy Valley Racecourse Track Arrangements
For Happy Valley night meetings, several fixtures throughout September and October will feature “False Rails” (rails moved back). Punters should pay close attention to track bias during these meetings:
September 9 (Wednesday): A Course
September 16 (Wednesday): B Course (False Rails)
September 23 (Wednesday): C Course (False Rails)
October 7 (Wednesday): C+3 Course (False Rails)
October 14 (Wednesday): A Course
October 21 (Wednesday): B Course (False Rails)
Key Notes for Racegoers
Season Opener & Feature Fixtures: The Season Opening meeting on September 6 and the National Day meeting on October 1 will both utilize the Sha Tin A Course, which typically exhibits minimal track bias, allowing horses to run on true merit.
Happy Valley False Rails Dynamics: The Happy Valley meetings on September 16, September 23, October 7, and October 21 feature “False Rails.” Historical data suggests that changes in track geometry following rail adjustments often favor front-runners or horses saving ground along the inside rail.
sources: Hong Kong Jockey Club