Hong Kong Derby, the thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1873, has a new title sponsor. BMW has replaced rival Mercedes-Benz in a new five-year agreement, financial details of which were not released.
The race's title sponsor cost Mercedes-Benz US$2 million, according to sportspro. The 2013 Hong Kong Derby, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday 17th March at the Sha Tin Racecourse, will be officially known as the BMW Hong Kong Derby.
"We're delighted to enter this new five-year partnership with BMW HK," said Hong Kong Jockey Club chief executive Englebrecht-Breges. "The Hong Kong Derby embodies the dynamism that makes horse racing such a compelling sporting occasion. That dynamism is reflected in BMW, a competitive force renowned for its speed, power and all-round high-performance. Those attributes are at the core of Hong Kong horse racing and apply perfectly to this unique race. Both BMW and the Derby have strong appeal to customers with a competitive edge and a dynamic lifestyle, making this partnership an ideal fit – one that will augment the race's prestige status and drive it to new levels."
Newman Tsang, the managing director of BMW's Hong Kong division, added, "The Hong Kong Jockey Club is surely an excellent partner to work with. It is the world leader from Hong Kong, providing sporting and horse racing entertainment. It is also the largest private donor of charity funds. After two years' of remarkable success in our collaboration of the BMW Champions Mile, the upcoming BMW Hong Kong Derby will mark another important milestone in further escalating our partnership with the Hong Kong Jockey Club."
