Kwok Chi-yau Kenneth 1928-1990s

OUR MEMORIES

Events

Horses

People

1942-05-16 racebook HKRC Japanese Occupation programme cover and result

1962 Kenneth Kwok LONGCHAMP P&O Cup

1957-05-11 Kenneth Kwok SERBU

1967-02-24 Kenneth Kwok soccer

1940s Happy Valley Hospital Bend

The Unforgettable Rider; The Unforgettable Jockey

Kenneth Kwok or Kenny Kwok 郭子猷, was the super star of amateur jockeys in Hong Kong racing history with a time span before the Second World War till to the professionalization era in early 1970s.

HIGHLIGHTS

1928, born in Kobe Japan where his Cantonese father owned a restaurant.

1937 he first came to Hong Kong with his Japanese mother.

1940-09-15 he rode a winner in his very first race in Macau.

1940-10-05, he won again in another Macau Race day.

1941, began riding in Hong Kong being the first “celebrity” jockeys.

1942-04-25 grand opening of the Hong Kong Race Club, he,rode and helped in races organized by the Japanese authority.

1950-04-08 the 73rd Derby, he won on John Peel‘s CLONFECKLE.

1957-05-11 the 80th Derby, he won on Dr Leung Tin Sun and Partners’ SERBU.

1963/64 sharing the champion jockey title with Middleton.

1971 and before racing professionalized in Hong Kong he was officially an amateur jockey, or a gentleman rider, and later, a horse owner. He also made his living as an actor, insurance agent and building contractor.

1972-01-29 he competed in the first International Jockeys’ Invitation Cup which marked the beginning of professionalism of Hong Kong racing. Other contenders were T C Cheng, Gary Moore and Lester Piggott.

1972-05-20 he rode his last race but continued to serve in the Club as grandstand manager.

SUMMARY

In the Racing Seasons of 1949, 1951, 1952, 1953/54, 1955/56, 1956/57, 1957/58, 1958/59, 1961/62, 1962/63, 1963/64, 1965/66, and 1966/67, he was champion jockey 13 times and broke six course records during his 30-year career in the saddle.

Around mid-1990s, he retired and passed away in Vancouver, Canada.