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Hong Kong Jockey Club

Zac Purton stands alone as the jockey with the most wins in Hong Kong racing history after successes aboard Spirit Of Peace in the third section of the Class 4 Kowloon Park Handicap and View Of The World in the second section of the Class 3 Victoria Park Handicap at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

The seven-time Hong Kong champion jockey reached the 1,814-win milestone with a double at the city circuit to edge past the long-standing mark of 1,813 wins set by the legendary Douglas Whyte, who retired from race-riding in 2019 following 12,269 Hong Kong rides.

Purton, 42, hails from Lismore, Australia, and moved to Hong Kong in 2007, recording his first winner at Happy Valley on Sept. 12, 2007 atop Elfhelm. Since then, his storied career has seen him surpass the 100-win mark in a season nine times, including a record 179 in 2022-23. His win strike rate over 17 years of competitive riding in Hong Kong is above 17%.

Purton has had 10,358 rides across his time in Hong Kong racing and sits high in the pantheon of the sport’s greats. “I appreciate everyone hanging around and the support that I get,” he said. “I get a lot of love here in Hong Kong, and I feel that.

“Our fans and supporters are very unique, and I’m very fortunate to have them by my side and behind my back supporting me. Thank you and thank you to every owner, trainer and person that I know that has supported me throughout my career and not just here in Hong Kong but along the journey of when I started as an apprentice to now.”

After Gary Moore and Noel Barker, Purton is only the third Australian to win a riding championship in Hong Kong. Purton’s career began with veteran trainer Trevor Hardy in Coffs Harbour, Australia, at the age of 14. His first career win was atop Magic Zap at Armidale in Australia on May 6, 2000, and he was Brisbane champion jockey in 2003 as an apprentice.

Purton paid tribute to Whyte, who is credited with changing the way jockeys operate in Hong Kong by meticulously planning bookings well in advance as opposed to determining which horse to ride after entries were made public. This approach contributed to Whyte’s 13 consecutive riding titles from 2000-01 to 2012-13.

“He was the one who wrote the playbook, really. He came to Hong Kong and changed the way jockeys operated here and the landscape and how you had to run your business and we’ve all had to follow on from that and without him setting the standard, things would be different,” Purton said.

“I actually once said to Doug, ‘don’t worry, your record is safe, I won’t be around long enough to break it.’ At that time, I thought I was going to retire or go home earlier but I’m still here. I gave him the wrong ‘intel’ about it. We had lunch recently and he’s all right about it.

“Records are made to be broken, and mine will be broken one day as well.”

Whyte, who was on hand as Purton logged his 1,813th win, said, “It’s been a long time coming. It was always going to happen and he’s one of the best riders we’ve seen around and he deserves it. As I’ve mentioned he turns up day in and day out and that’s not easy for any sportsman to do, that’s what makes champions and that’s what makes you successful.”