Horse racing is a popular legal activity in Hong Kong, and the Happy Valley Racecourse is managed by a non-profit charitable organization that aims to provide entertainment and social activity. As many as 40,000 people go on Wednesday nights during the racing season that extends from September to early July. There are some restaurants and bars where people can have meals and get snacks, and beer is relatively cheap. The arena has sophisticated computerized betting, and races are shown live on a gigantic screen.
　　The Happy Valley Racecourse was first built in 1845 to provide horse racing for the British people in Hong Kong. The area was previously swampland, but the only flat ground suitable for horse racing on Hong Kong Island. To make way for the racecourse, Hong Kong Government prohibited rice growing by villages in the surrounding area. The first race ran in December 1846. Over the years, horse racing became more and more popular among the Chinese residents.
　　The Archive and Museum has four galleries which includes the “Origin of Our Horses”. This gallery has an exhibit of the migration route of horses in the past from the northern area of China to the city. There also is the Shaping Sha Tin gallery and it displays the history of this race track. The next area is the “Understanding Horses” exhibit and it shows the skeleton of Silver Lining, a Hong Kong Champion horse. Finally, there is the Thematic Exhibition and it offers visitors a look at the Jockey Club’s history. Charitable and community projects are also on display in this gallery. Additionally, the museum has a souvenir shop and a cinema.