During my 15 years as presenter & producer of 'The Ford Report' for New Zealand's Trackside Television, a memorable experience was a few days as media guests of the Hong Kong Jockey Club at one of their QE11 Cup meetings; I'm pretty sure it was 2002 when Eishin Preston (JPN) won the first of his back-to-back QE11 Cups.
This is cameraman Dana Hemingway & I standing in the inside tower prior to racing, from memory the crowd that day swelled to 50,000, creating an intense & invigorating atmosphere.
The HKJC really know how to look after their guests, limo on arrival, a couple of chefs cooking omelettes in the press room on trackwork morning & a boat trip across the harbour with the who's who of international racing media. What's more, they supplied us with a very friendly guy who carried all our gear!
I recall interviewing Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (still the CEO there), trainer John Size and the then commentator David Raphael amongst many interesting interviewees.
I know Covid is probably stopping you right now, but don't ever give up on getting to Hong Kong for an unforgettable racing experience.
