BMW to Sponsor Hong Kong Derby

BMW have replaced fellow German automobile manufacturer Mercedes-Benz as the main sponsor of the Hong Kong Derby.

The Jockey Club’s seven-year romance with Mercedes-Benz has ended, with the announcement yesterday that BMW will put its name on the Derby for the next five years.

There will be no increase to the HK$16 million in stake money the Derby has carried since 2007, which leaves it sitting just ahead of the Epsom Derby, just behind the Kentucky Derby, but a long way behind almost HK$28 million in prize money for the Japanese Derby.

While Mercedes-Benz also sponsored the Group One four-year-old lead-up races, the Classic Mile and Classic Cup, there was nothing in yesterday’s announcement to indicate that BMW would be following suit.

This year’s winner of the annual event was Douglas Whyte on Fay Fay.