RacingBetter News
	Thursday 18th December 2025

Hollie Doyle Highlights Stark Contrast Between Hong Kong’s Elite Jockey Facilities and Britain’s Slow Progress

Photo by Philippe Oursel on Unsplash

Hollie Doyle has spoken candidly about the contrast between jockey facilities in Hong Kong and Britain, describing the amenities available at Sha Tin as “unreal” while admitting progress at home has been frustratingly slow. Nearing the end of a successful spell riding in Hong Kong, Doyle has had first-hand experience of what a modern, athlete-focused racing environment looks like. Her comments have reignited debate around the pace of change in British racing, particularly when it comes to providing equal and professional standards for all riders.

Digital Growth and Changing Engagement with Racing

Away from facilities, the way racing is followed and consumed has also evolved rapidly. In the digital age, interest in equestrian events has expanded beyond traditional audiences, with fans now engaging through streaming, data platforms, and global racing coverage. Flat racing, jumps, and international meetings from places like Hong Kong have all benefited from wider online exposure, helping to bring new attention to the sport.

Online betting sites have played a role in that growth by making races more accessible to follow in real time. Viewers can track meetings across different time zones, compare form, and engage with events that were once difficult to access outside their home markets. This has helped raise the profile of international racing hubs, including Hong Kong, where the professionalism of the sport is matched by its global reach.

Within that space, crypto betting sites have gained popularity due to faster transactions, broader international coverage, and fewer barriers tied to traditional payment systems. Users are drawn to platforms that offer speed, transparency, and access to global racing markets in one place. That ease of access has contributed to growing interest in equestrian events worldwide. As engagement increases, expectations around standards also rise, which naturally brings the focus back to how riders are treated behind the scenes.

World-Class Facilities at Sha Tin

Doyle’s praise centres on the facilities provided by the Hong Kong Jockey Club following a multi-million-pound redevelopment of Sha Tin racecourse. Riders there have access to a state-of-the art exercise facility, cold plunge pools, and recovery areas designed specifically for elite physical performance. The environment is built around preparation and recovery, reflecting the demands placed on jockeys competing twice a week at Sha Tin and Happy Valley.

Beyond the physical infrastructure, the level of on-site support has also impressed Doyle. Full-time personal trainers and physiotherapists are available to help with conditioning, injury prevention, and mental well-being. Jockeys also have access to nutritionists, chiropractors, masseuses, and psychologists, creating a support network that mirrors what is seen in other top-level professional sports.

The weighing room facilities have also been upgraded, including a dedicated female jockeys’ room that offers privacy and comfort. For Doyle, this attention to detail sends a clear message. Riders are treated as professional athletes, and their needs are prioritised. She has said that this approach makes the continued discussions in Britain feel outdated, given how straightforward the solutions can be when commitment and funding align.

Britain’s Slow Path to Modernisation

Back in Britain, Doyle’s comments reflect long-standing concerns shared by many within the sport. Last year, the Professional Jockeys Association described facilities for female riders as inadequate and discriminatory, with many racecourses still requiring women to use male changing rooms. The issue is rooted in history, as most British weighing rooms were built at a time when female jockeys were not competing.

The British Horseracing Authority introduced a deadline requiring all racecourses to provide equal facilities for male and female jockeys, but that deadline has now been extended to the end of December 2027. After that point, any track that has not completed the necessary work will not be permitted to stage fixtures. While 21 racecourses have completed rebuilding or refurbishment, progress elsewhere has been uneven.

Recent reports have highlighted the stark reality at some venues, where conditions remain far from acceptable. Images showing jockeys warming up in unsuitable spaces have fuelled frustration and added urgency to calls for reform. The Racecourse Association has acknowledged the scale of the challenge, estimating that more than £40 million will be required across its 58 members, many of which are facing financial pressures.

Doyle has acknowledged that efforts are being made, but she believes the pace of change is not matching the needs of the sport. She has been clear that if jockeys are expected to perform as elite athletes, they must be treated as such. Her experience in Hong Kong has shown what is possible when welfare, performance, and professionalism are placed at the centre of racing infrastructure.