Golden Sixty was honoured with an emotional retirement celebration at Sha Tin on Sunday, as a packed parade ring bid farewell to the beloved Hong Kong champion.
At eight years old, he leaves behind an impressive record of 26 wins from 31 races, accumulating over £16.3 million in career earnings and solidifying his status as the region's most popular horse.
He notched 10 Group One victories and was named Hong Kong Horse of the Year in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, led the tributes to the crowd favourite. In his club blog, he wrote: "Golden Sixty was not just a champion racehorse; he embodied Hong Kong's finest qualities—his determination, resilience, and world-class attributes shone brightly across six racing seasons from three to eight years old. Expertly managed by trainer Francis Lui and his team for owner Stanley Chan, Golden Sixty was ridden in all 31 starts by Vincent Ho. Though bred in Australia and sired by an American stallion, he is truly a hero of Hong Kong."
"His remarkable achievements have brought great pride to Hong Kong and showcased our world-class racing. It’s an understatement to say he will be deeply missed, especially at our premier events where his dominance was a defining feature, particularly during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic."