The Macau Jockey Club (MJC) has agreed to offer subsidies of up to HK$200,000 to assist individual horse owners to cover the cost of transporting horses abroad, according to an MJC compensation proposal that was cited by TDM yesterday.
According to the document, horse owners are required to pay for the relocation of the animals first and then be reimbursed by the MJC, which is being wound down.
The horses can be sent to either mainland China, Malaysia, the United States or the European Union. The possibility of transferring the animals to other destinations, such as Australia and New Zealand, is being considered, with the MJC noting that “new protocols will be established accordingly.”
[See more: What will happen to the racehorses after the Macau Jockey Club closes?]
Until the horses are relocated, the club says owners must pay stabling fees of HK$8,000 a month. However, owners who transfer full ownership of the horses to the MJC will not be required to make any payments.
In response to a query from local media, MJC said that after the cessation of racing on 31 March 2024, it will continue to ensure that the horses are looked after in accordance with international standards. Veterinarians, farriers and other staff members will still be on duty after this date.
The MJC is expected to cease operations on 1 April 2024 and the 289 race horses that are stabled there are required to be transported out of the territory by no later than 31 March 2025.
