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MACAO (AP) — After greater than 40 years, Macao’s horse racing observe hosted its closing races on Saturday, bringing an finish to the game within the metropolis well-known for its huge casinos.
In January, town’s authorities mentioned it will terminate its contract with the Macao Jockey Membership in April. The choice got here on the request of the Macao Horse Race Firm, which cited operational challenges as a part of the explanations for the closure.
On Saturday, gamblers congregated within the half-full stands and positioned their closing bets. Some vacationers additionally visited the observe.
Mai Wan-zun, a scholar from mainland China in Macao, mentioned she needed to get a style of the environment. “We might come to see horse racing right here in Macao, however not in mainland China,” she mentioned.
Helena Chong, a Macao resident, determined to go to the race course for the primary and final time to see what it’s all about.
“It’s a pity to see the top of all this playing and leisure,” she mentioned.
Horse racing within the former Portuguese colony has struggled with financial challenges lately and has but to rebound from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its jockey membership had amassed working losses of over $311 million, the Macau Information Company earlier reported.
Below the termination association, the horse racing agency had pledged to rearrange for transportation of householders’ horses to different areas by March 2025, and deal with the corporate’s staff in response to the regulation, the federal government mentioned.
In neighboring Hong Kong, horse-racing stays fashionable and worthwhile. Its jockey membership runs numerous playing actions and is town’s main donor of many charity works.
Alice Fung, The Related Press
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