Kwanti Racecourse-San Wai Camp-1936 | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Kwanti Racecourse-San Wai Camp-1936

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Kwanti Racecourse-San Wai Camp-1936
Submitted by IDJ
Tags: 
Fanling
racecourse
Date picture taken (may be approximate): 
Monday, June 15, 1936
Gallery: 
1930s Hong Kong
Connections: 
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Comments

Submitted by lolau on Wed, 2012-05-09 16:55.

The near by area of San Wai Camp is Lung Yeuk Tau with villages. What's the exact location of race course today?

Submitted by David on Wed, 2012-05-09 21:09.

I've updated the "Places" above. Click to see my best guess at the location.

Regards, David

Submitted by lolau on Thu, 2012-05-10 12:38.

I tend to believe the origional race course is around today's Precious Blood Children's Village. The plot was bought in 1952. Fanling Hunt & Race Club was dissolved in 1954. The revised location actually is very close to Kan Lung Village.

Submitted by moddsey on Sat, 2012-05-12 08:57.

The earliest reference to Kwanti or Kwan Ti (military land in Chinese) in the HKGRO comes from the 1899 Report on the Extension of the Colony showing a population of 80 people were living in the village.

The race course takes its name after the nearby village and not due to the presence of the British Army camp located nearby at San Wai.

1936 Kwanti Race Course looking towards San Wai Camp and Cap Badge Hill.

1936 San Wai Camp

 

Submitted by ray888 on Sat, 2012-05-12 10:39.

There was a course managed by the Fanling Hunt & Race Club if you check The Straits Times, 1 November 1930, Page 17 as following “Steeplechasing”:

 

http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19301101.2.81.8.aspx

 

Is this course related to Kwanti Racecourse?

Submitted by moddsey on Sat, 2012-05-12 13:02.
Yes, the Fanling Hunt operated the Kwanti Race Course from about 1927 or 1928. Steeplechase races were also ran. If one looks at the 1930s map one will note that the " stables" were located to the east of San Wai Camp. Not sure if these were for the military or for the Hunt.

Submitted by ray888 on Sat, 2012-05-12 13:55.

Many thanks for your information. Is the Kwanti Race Course only horseracing track in Fanling during the 1930s or earlier?

Submitted by moddsey on Sat, 2012-05-12 14:40.
In 1927 or 1928 when the Kwanti Race Course first started 5 race meetings were held that year and special train services were run from Kowloon to Fanling for the events. So one would consider in those days the Kwanti Race Course as being closest to the nearest town of Fanling. That's just my guess.

Submitted by IDJ on Sat, 2012-05-12 14:53.

The book "At the Peak" by Paul Gillingham has a chapter on the Fanling Hunt and Kwanti race course along with a number of splendid pictures of the Hunt and  steeplechasing at the race course. The Hunt was started in 1924 and apparently occasionally strayed over the border during its activities

Submitted by ray888 on Sat, 2012-05-12 17:16.

I found this Hong Kong Jockey Club enamelled bar brooch, together with two 

the Fanling Hunt & Race Club
photos as an auction lot in England.  I am trying to decide whether the Hunan Stakes has taken place in the Kwanti Race Course ?

Submitted by ray888 on Sat, 2012-05-12 17:34.

I have been searching information on the Sunning, the Hunan Stakes and owner of Sunning.

Sunning - Winner of the Hunan Stakes, Fanling 1932
the Hunan Stakes
Does Fanling have the horse race tracks in earlier 30s?

Submitted by moddsey on Sun, 2012-05-13 08:39.

China Mail 19 and 21 March 1932

The Fanling Hunt Meeting was held at the Kwanti Race Course on 20 March 1932. The Meeting also included steeplechase events. The main race was the Fanling Grand National which coincided with the English Grand National held a few days earlier.

The Hunan Stakes was a flat race of 6 furlongs for China ponies, subscription griffins of the HKJC and ponies classified by the HKJC in "D1 and D2' classes and to be ridden by jockeys who had not won 10 races at anywhere at anytime.

The "Sunning" that won the Hunan Stakes was owned and ridden by H. P. Rees. His other horse "Glorious Stag" came in second.

From the 1933 Jury List, it would appear that H. P. Rees was Horace Peter Rees.

 

 

Submitted by ray888 on Sun, 2012-05-13 15:48.

Your information has been very much of helpful.

Was the Hunan Stakes a part of the Fanling Grand National held at the Kwanti Race Course on 20 March 1932.?

Three items, the Hong Kong Jockey Club enamelled bar brooch, together with two photos, have been sold out as an auction lot from England, and have been entered by a private vendor clearing a local property as I asked the auction house for its provenance. I believe the former owner of these items is related to Horace Peter Rees. The lady in the photo probably is the wife of H. P. Rees, I would guess.

 What is the subscription griffins of the HKJC?

Submitted by moddsey on Sun, 2012-05-13 16:11.

The Hunan Stakes was a flat race and not a steeplechase event but it was part of the Fanling Grand National programme.

For further information in the local press, please refer to:

http://gwulo.com/where-to-find-hong-kongs-history

Submitted by moddsey on Sun, 2012-05-13 22:57.

HK Daily Press 1 November 1926

The first steeplechase meeting held at the Kwanti Race Course was on 30 October 1926. Five races were held and in attendance was H.R.H. Prince George.

Kwanti Race Course First Race Meeting

Submitted by ray888 on Mon, 2012-05-14 09:31.

Was the Fanling Hunt Meeting the part of the Fanling Grand National?

Submitted by ray888 on Mon, 2012-05-14 21:49.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12681, 28 October 1909, Page 4

There was an article on racing in Hong Kong for your perusal.

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=TC19091028.2.60

Submitted by moddsey on Sat, 2014-01-04 11:19.

A day at the Fanling races in 1939 as shown here

Submitted by Joanna on Fri, 2016-07-29 01:56.

The "A H Potts" mentioned in the news clipping is most likely "Alexander Hutton Potts" my first cousin once removed. His wife was Susannah Weill, daughter of Albert and Rosie Weill. Unfortunately I have not been able to find much information on Susannah other than her parent's names.

Submitted by Joanna on Fri, 2016-07-29 03:48.

 I used Google Eearth to locate Lung Yeuk Tau and Precious Blood Chidrens' Village. Looking at the image I can see a definite pathway/outline in an arc which suggests it might have been part of the racecourse.