In Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Jockey Club is managed by a board of directors headed by a chairman and consisting of 12 respected directors who serve on a voluntary basis and do not receive remuneration.
The day-to-day management of the Hong Kong Jockey Club is carried out by the Management Committee, which is led by the Chief Executive Officer. The Hong Kong Jockey Club is the largest employment organization in Hong Kong, employing 4,150 full-time staff and 14,000 part-time staff.
Someone once joked that the largest triad in Hong Kong is not the Triads, but the Hong Kong Jockey Club, which is the real number one power in Hong Kong.
As Qin Haoran said, the members of the Hong Kong Jockey Club's board of directors are not ordinary people. They include Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang, Cheung Kong Holdings Chairman Li Ka-shing, Hong Kong Monetary Authority Chairman Joseph Yam, Sun Hung Kai Properties Chairman Walter Kwok, and CITIC Pacific Chairman Vincent Wong, among other political and business leaders.
Not to mention the directors of the board, even the membership of the Hong Kong Jockey Club is highly respected. Membership applications must be recommended by selected members of the Hong Kong Jockey Club. The Jockey Club has 200 selected members, and the number of members recommended each year is limited.
In addition to owning racehorses, members can also enjoy horseback riding in the comfortable environment of the Shuangyuhe Country Club. Members include prominent figures such as Chief Justice Li Guoneng, Legislative Council President Rita Fan, university presidents, and doctors.
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Rui couldn't help but gasp. "My goodness, this is practically wiping out everyone in Hong Kong's upper class. If this doesn't develop, then it would truly be an injustice."
Compared to Hong Kong's super-rich like Li Ka-shing, it's truly remarkable that Mr. Qin was able to become a board member. Whether judged by his personal wealth or social influence, Qin's Jewelry is far inferior to those who can be considered business leaders in the Chinese community.
"Alright, Zhuang Rui, stop listening to those two rambling on about horse racing. They could talk for three days and three nights straight without getting tired. Come on, let's take Brother Timur and Qiqige to their rooms. We've got nothing to do these next few days, let's have some fun in Hong Kong..."
Sitting to the side, Qin Xuanbing was a little impatient with her parents talking about horse racing, fearing that Zhuang Rui would also become a gambler. Little did she know that if Zhuang Rui were determined to enter the gambling world, probably no one would be able to call him the King of Gamblers before he died.
Of course, there is another possibility: Zhuang Rui may not dominate the gambling world for more than a few years before he is assassinated. In any shady business, very few people can have a good end.
Especially since Zhuang Rui's supernatural abilities came out of nowhere, he dared not do anything against the natural order. Even if he won some money from the gambling table, Zhuang Rui mostly gave it away. The reason he agreed to attend the opening ceremony of the new gambling company with Fourth Aunt was actually because he had another ulterior motive.
Zhuang Rui, who always granted Qin Xuanbing's requests, shook his head and said, "Xuanbing, you take Brother Timur and Qiqige upstairs first. My parents and I still need to discuss some business matters..."
"Okay, but you're not allowed to bet on horses..."
Qin Xuanbing stood up, glared at Zhuang Rui, and then led her tired children and Timur upstairs. It seems that the events of her childhood left a deep shadow in Qin Xuanbing's heart.
"Xiao Rui? What's wrong? Are you short on funds?"
Qin Haoran was a little surprised to hear that Zhuang Rui wanted to talk business with him. Qin's Jewelry and Zhuang Rui had no business dealings. After the opening up of the domestic diamond import and export business, even the "Qin Ruilin" store in Beijing had been purchasing its own goods in recent years and rarely relied on Qin's Jewelry for supply.
"Dad, what do you think of the three new companies that have been added to Macau?"
Macau has always only had two types of companies: finance companies, which are loan sharks, and gambling companies. Zhuang Rui believed that his father-in-law would understand him.
"Are you talking about those three companies that just got gambling licenses?"
After thinking for a moment, Qin Haoran said, "Macau has made great progress in regulating the gambling industry in recent years. As long as you can get a gambling license, you're guaranteed to make a profit. Xiao Rui, are you worried about the shares in that company?"
Zhuang Rui shook his head and said, "No, Dad, I want to transfer the shares of the Macau company to Qin's Jewelry. What do you think?"
"This...this, Xiao Rui, others can't even buy those shares even with money!"
Even Qin Haoran, a seasoned businessman, was shocked by Zhuang Rui's words and stood up from the sofa, his face showing a look of astonishment.
Chapter 1208 Racecourse
Although they are father-in-law and son-in-law, the financial transactions between Zhuang Rui and Qin's Jewelry are very clear. Even though he accepted his father-in-law's jewelry store, Qin Ruilin paid for all the subsequent supply of goods.
Although Qin Haoran knew that Zhuang Rui was wealthy, he wasn't entirely sure how much money Zhuang Rui actually had. But seeing Zhuang Rui offer hundreds of millions of US dollars so readily, even someone as experienced in the business world as him couldn't sit still.
It's important to understand that obtaining a gambling license in Macau is like raising a golden goose, allowing the family to share in the billions of US dollars generated by Macau's casinos each year. Getting involved in the gambling industry would allow the Qin family to further solidify their position among Hong Kong's elite families, beyond their traditional jewelry business.
“Dad, I’m not very interested in the gambling industry. Besides, given my mother’s family’s background, having shares in Macau would easily attract gossip. I’ve thought about it for a long time and decided to transfer these shares to Qin’s Jewelry. I wonder if you would be willing to take over?”
Zhuang Rui had nothing to hide from his father-in-law, and these words came from the bottom of his heart. Before coming to Macau, Ouyang Zhenwu had a deep conversation with Zhuang Rui, during which the matter of Macau casino shares was mentioned.
Although political families in China have all sorts of businesses, gambling is illegal in China. Zhuang Rui owns shares in a Macau gambling company, which may become a topic of attack for others in the future.
Importantly, Zhuang Rui was afraid of trouble. Although he had made a lot of money in the few gambling games he participated in, the risks involved were also self-evident.
The machinations by the gamblers and the robbery in America all seem to stem from this word "gambling." Zhuang Rui no longer wants to have anything to do with these "games" with their dark backgrounds.
Qin Haoran stared into Zhuang Rui's eyes and asked, "Xiao Rui, if you really want to transfer the shares to Qin's Jewelry, will you regret it later?"
Although they only hold 15 percent of the shares in the new company, given the booming gambling industry, the wealth the Qin family acquires through these shares may surpass their traditional jewelry profits in a few years.
Zhuang Rui shook his head and said, "Dad, I have more money than I can ever spend in my lifetime, so there's nothing to regret. How about this, you have a lawyer draft a share transfer agreement, and when we go to Macau next Saturday, I'll talk to Fourth Aunt, and after the company's board of directors approves it, we can sign it..."
"So... Xiao Rui, how much do you want to transfer this 15% stake to the Qin family for?"
When the topic of business came up, Qin Haoran became serious. Although father-in-law and son-in-law are father-in-law and son-in-law, they should keep things separate. Zhuang Rui was talking about a transfer, not a gift, and the Qin family should also show sufficient sincerity.
"Three hundred million US dollars will suffice; that's what I invested back then..."
Zhuang Rui originally gave the $700 million he won in the United States to Huangfu Yun, intending to invest it in the Dingguang Foundation. Later, he took back $300 million and invested it in the fourth wife's new company.
"Xiao Rui, that's too unfair to you. How about this, on behalf of the Qin family, I'll give you six hundred million US dollars to buy your fifteen percent stake in Macau..."
Almost all of Hong Kong's top tycoons have some connection with Macau's largest gambling companies, holding significant shares in them.
Being able to join a Macau gambling company signifies a family's status, something that a medium-sized enterprise like Qin's Jewelry in Hong Kong would never have dared to dream of before.
Given the gambling company's ability to generate revenue, the $600 million would only take a few years to recoup. Therefore, Qin Haoran offered $600 million, which, although double the price Zhuang Rui quoted, was not considered a high price. If Zhuang Rui were to put these 15% of the shares up for public sale, he believed that even $1 billion would be worth it.
"Okay, Dad, you can arrange it as you see fit. This money... will be transferred to my Dingguang Foundation in China..."
Zhuang Rui's charitable foundation in China is growing in scale and influence. Bi Yuntao, who was swindled out of hundreds of millions by Macau con artists, is now acting as an agent for a well-known domestic charitable organization.
With Ouyang Jun's help, many top domestic celebrities have also participated in the Dingguang Foundation's charity projects, which has increased the Dingguang Museum's visibility to some extent.
Just like when the news of the Imperial Seal of the State's first exhibition at the Dingguang Museum was announced, many people familiar with the Dingguang Museum applauded it, noting that the Palace Museum earns so much money every year, yet they never seem to use it for charitable projects. ...
After finalizing the Macau shares, Zhuang Rui spent the next two days sightseeing in Hong Kong with his family and Timur, visiting famous attractions such as Ocean Park and Disneyland.
On the third day after arriving in Hong Kong, Zhuang Rui accepted Bai Meng'an's invitation to watch the horse races. According to Bai Meng'an, people who have never been to the racetrack can never imagine the intense and tense atmosphere of galloping horses and the breathless crowd.
Happy Valley Racecourse is located between Wan Chai and Causeway Bay. It was originally a reclaimed swamp. The racecourse is equipped with giant computer screens and various advanced facilities, and can accommodate more than 55,000 spectators.
The racecourse was brightly lit at night, as bright as day, and the scenery was very charming. At the entrance of the racecourse, countless people lined up to enter.
Like European professional football leagues, horse racing in Hong Kong also spans multiple years. A racing season generally starts in early September each year and ends in late June of the following year.
There are a total of 78 races throughout the entire racing season, with one race each scheduled for day and night over two days each week. The day races usually start at 1:30 pm and consist of 10 races, while the night races start at 7:30 pm and consist of 7 races. Zhuang Rui and his group are currently watching the night race.
"Brother Zhuang, I'll tell you about horse racing later. You should buy a few horses too. I'm going to bet on your horses..."
Bai Meng'an led Zhuang Rui and his group through another gate into the racecourse and arrived at the beer garden they had booked earlier. This beer garden was right next to the grass track and had the best spot to watch the race. There was also a barbecue buffet, so they could eat and watch at the same time, making it the perfect place to entertain friends.
"Hmph, Brother Bai, if we're talking about horse racing, I'm no match. I'd be more suited to watching Timur's horse race. Even Qiqige is much better than me..."
Zhuang Rui smiled and waved his hand repeatedly, then turned to look at the high stands and was immediately startled. "Brother Bai, this...this is really lively..."
Zhuang Rui and his group were at the very bottom of the racecourse, surrounded by a dense crowd of people in the stands. One could imagine how grand it must have been to see tens of thousands of people exchanging horse racing tips.
During the Beijing Olympics last year, Zhuang Rui also went to watch some of the competitions, but even the most popular events were not as lively as they were in the spacious racetrack.
"Brother Zhuang, this is the night session. It's much more lively during the day. Hehe, Miss Qin doesn't like horse racing. If it weren't for Yao accompanying her, I wouldn't have dared to invite you..."
Bai Meng'an hadn't been very polite in addressing Qin Xuanbing before, but considering Zhuang Rui's feelings, she didn't call Qin Xuanbing by her name directly, but instead called her Miss Qin.
Thanks to Zhuang Rui's acquaintance with Ouyang Jun, Bai Meng'an's business in mainland China has been going smoothly in recent years. She has received much praise from her elders in the family, so every time Zhuang Rui comes to Hong Kong, Bai Meng'an always tries to be a good host.
"Hehe, Xuanbing is a bit stubborn. Let's not tell her, Qiqige, do you hear me?"
Although Zhuang Rui was somewhat averse to gambling, he was quite interested in guessing the outcome of competitive games, just like he enjoyed watching football and would buy some football betting tickets. In Zhuang Rui's eyes, this was purely a game that tested his judgment.
"Okay, I won't tell Sister Qin. Brother Bai, when does the horse race start?"
The most excited person upon arriving at the racecourse was undoubtedly Uyunqiqige. Horse racing is a traditional activity for Mongolians, and being able to watch it from Hong Kong made the little girl's eyes light up.
"Qiqige, you'll have to wait a bit. Let me explain the rules to you. Once you understand, just tell me which horse you want to bet on..."
Zhuang Rui and the others were in the VIP area. Each seat in front of them was connected to a touchscreen, from which they could learn about all the horses competing that day and log into their own accounts to place bets directly.
"I can't see anything wrong with this..."
Zhuang Rui looked at the touchscreen for a while, feeling a bit confused. Each race had at least ten horses participating, so seven races would mean seventy or eighty horses. It would be impossible for someone who didn't regularly study horse racing to pick out their favorite horse.
There were also some rider profiles, so many of them that Zhuang Rui and the others were dizzy from reading them. Moreover, the horses used in the competitions were almost all tall, large horses, and even Timur and Uyunqiqige couldn't tell the difference between them.
Bai Meng'an knew it was impossible to get Zhuang Rui and the others to understand these racehorses in a short time, so he said with a wry smile, "Brother Zhuang, well... let's just consider it a gamble. But I can guarantee that every horse participating here is world-class..."
Bai Meng'an's words made Wu Yunqiqige somewhat unconvinced, and she retorted, "What's so great about being tall? My Little White can definitely outrun them..."
"Qiqige, stop talking big. Let's watch a game first. These horses are all thoroughbreds, and their burst of power in a short time is much better than our Mongolian horses..."
Timur was an expert on horses; even though he was just looking at the screen, he could glean some clues from the horses' physiques.
Chapter 1209 Not a Single Win
"These horses are large and well-proportioned, with explosive power. Within 5,000 meters, even Brother Batel's Crimson Blood Horse probably couldn't outrun them. However, after 5,000 meters, they can't outrun our Mongolian horses..."
Timur looked at the horses on the screen with a hint of envy in his eyes. Although these horses were not very durable, they were very beautiful to watch. In terms of appearance alone, they were much more beautiful than the slightly smaller Mongolian horses.
"Mr. Timur has a good eye. Horse racing in Hong Kong is all about speed. These thoroughbreds are indeed not good at long-distance races..."
Upon hearing Timur's words, Bai Meng'an gave a thumbs up. His father was also a member of the horse club, so Bai Meng'an was quite knowledgeable about horse identification and selection.
General speed horse racing is divided into different categories such as 1000-meter sprint, 1650-meter medium-distance, and 2200-meter medium-to-long-distance races. This determines that the type of horse must be a short-distance racehorse with strong explosive power.
Timur could judge a horse's strengths and weaknesses simply by looking at its posture on the screen; this skill of judging horses was something that Bai Meng'an was ashamed of.
"By the way, Mr. Bai, what are the prices of these horses?"
Timur had been in Hong Kong for the past few days, and all he heard were people addressing him as "Mr." and "Ms." He started to imitate them, but it sounded a bit awkward to Zhuang Rui. He said, "Timur Anda, just call him Brother Bai. We're family, no need to be so formal..."
Timur was already tired of being addressed as "Mr." or "Ms.", so he went along with Zhuang Rui's words and said, "Alright, then I'll call you Brother Bai. Do you know how much these horses cost?"
Although speed-type horses lack stamina, they have great impact power, and their physiques are very beautiful. Timur's question meant that he wanted to buy two to take back for breeding. These crossbreeds of Thoroughbred and Mongolian horses might combine the advantages of both.
"Hehe, Brother Timur, these horses participating in today's race aren't very expensive..."
Bai Meng'an, Zhuang Rui's sworn brother, gave him plenty of face. He pointed to a horse Timur was looking at and said, "This horse is number three in a race, and it's the favorite to win today. Its price is around eight million Hong Kong dollars. These others are cheaper, probably around two or three million..."
"How much...?"
Timur thought he had misheard and stared at Bai Meng'an, asking another question.
"Horses that can participate in Hong Kong horse racing generally cost over a million Hong Kong dollars, so this price is a bit low..."
Bai Meng'an assumed Timur looked down on these horses, and continued, "This Saturday, there will be an international horse race in Macau. Famous horses from all over the world will be there, the most expensive one being around 60 million euros, which is also the best horse in the world..."
Because speed racing is open to betting, the price of racehorses is much higher than that of horses used in skill racing. This racehorse, valued at 60 million euros, earned its worth through numerous victories and has already brought its owner nearly 200 million euros.
The racehorse that Sir Alex Ferguson used in his lawsuit is considered one of the top racehorses in the world, and according to some experts, its value is no less than 30 million euros.
Sixty million euros?