Jockey Membership chief steward Kim Kelly indicators off amid emotions of ‘unhappiness and satisfaction’ | HK Racing

It has been the flexibility to maintain his emotions out of the equation that has held Kim Kelly in such good stead throughout 20 years of policing Hong Kong racing, however the outgoing chief steward admits the feelings had been flowing as the sector crossed the road within the ultimate race of the Completely satisfied Valley assembly on January 18.

That was Kelly’s final assembly in cost at what he describes as his favorite racetrack on the earth, however one imagines what he skilled that evening shall be nothing in comparison with the feelings he’ll encounter as soon as Sunday’s bumper Stewards’ Cup assembly is over and his time on the Jockey Membership is up.

“Hong Kong and the Jockey Membership have been our lives for 20 years, so there’s naturally a unhappiness that comes with leaving that,” he mentioned.

“We love residing within the metropolis, and I really like working for the Jockey Membership. I’m wanting ahead to getting again with my household – our daughter is getting married in March, and I’m a grandfather now – however there’s unhappiness at leaving right here.”

Ho determined to enjoy Stewards’ Cup: ‘horses like this don’t stay forever’

It’s becoming Kelly’s 20-year stint on the Jockey Membership – together with 13 years as chief steward – will come to an finish on the day Golden Sixty, Romantic Warrior and California Spangle conflict in one of the anticipated races of his time in Hong Kong.

“I’m a horse racing tragic. I really like the theatre and pleasure of horse racing,” mentioned Kelly, recalling the efforts of nice sprinters Silent Witness and Lord Kanaloa as being amongst his fondest on-course reminiscences.

“When my dad first took me to the races, I cherished the theatre of it – the colors, the horses and the thrill of the gang. I used to be bitten the primary time, and to this very day, I nonetheless take pleasure in that facet of it.”

It’s that love for the game that has pushed Kelly throughout his time within the Hong Kong pressure-cooker, the place there may be nowhere to cover in a spot with huge betting swimming pools, huge prize cash and as aggressive racing as wherever on the earth.

“I’ve cherished each minute of it. I very a lot love operating race conferences as a result of I really like horse racing,” Kelly mentioned. “It hasn’t been with out its moments, after all, in a job like this, the place each single resolution I make is open to public scrutiny.

“One of many issues I do to a satisfactory stage is decide and reside and die by it. I don’t second-guess myself. We work underneath time constraints, so there’s a necessity for us to make choices shortly, however they’ve received to be proper and after they’re made there’s no going again. I take pleasure in that stress.

“There’s loads that may go unsuitable with a horse race – it’s the solely sport the place they comply with them round with ambulances – and that’s one of many elements of our job I take pleasure in – taking these further components that may go unsuitable out of a horse race.

“Lots of people aren’t pleased with the choices I make, whether or not they be a protest or a jockey with a suspension, however on the finish of the day I solely do it for one cause, and that’s to maintain the setting protected and clear.”

Kelly has been within the scorching seat for quite a lot of well-publicised incidents – together with the Nash Rawiller scandal, which saw the Australian banned for 15 months for accepting money or gifts in return for race tips, and when a race was voided for the primary time ever in Hong Kong after a rake caused the barriers to open unevenly.

“I don’t know that there’s something specifically that’s created complications,” Kelly mentioned when quizzed on his most testing moments.

“Clearly, we’ve had our extra high-profile inquiries and people sort of issues and inquiries which have led to prolonged bans for riders for all method of causes. The factor about being the chief steward in Hong Kong is all the things is a problem at some stage. It’s the way you reply to it that creates the reminiscence, moderately than generally the act itself.”

It was the Jockey Membership’s use of state-of-the-art programs to observe betting patterns that led to Rawiller’s downfall, one thing Kelly regards as among the many largest developments he has seen in his time in Hong Kong.

“Our betting evaluation division, doubtless, leads the world. The evaluation of authorized and unlawful betting markets is the perfect on the earth. It’s been implausible to be part of that course of,” Kelly mentioned, whereas admitting the specter of illegal wagering stays the membership’s largest concern.

Kelly additionally takes nice satisfaction from his work round guidelines harmonisation with the Worldwide Federation of Horseracing Authorities – an organisation he’ll proceed to work for – in addition to the event of the native expertise within the using and coaching ranks.

He admits he doesn’t know the way he’s going to reply when he steps out of the cauldron and returns to his household in Brisbane – “I’ll let you know that in about six months” – however he does know he’ll depart along with his head held excessive after a tenure that has seen him earn respect for being laborious however truthful.

“I reckon what’s going to give me probably the most satisfaction is that I’ll stroll out on my phrases, moderately than the membership tapping me on the shoulder and saying ‘it’s time to go’,” Kelly mentioned.

“After I took over as chief steward, it was crucial to me I did the perfect job I presumably might to reward the belief and the religion the board of stewards and the senior administration had put in me, however I all the time needed to stroll out on my phrases and on good phrases with the membership.

“The opposite achievement I’m significantly pleased about is I’m leaving the place in good arms so far as the stewards’ panel goes.

“Finally, it’s as much as the trade to determine what kind of job I did, however I’m pleased with the job that I’ve achieved, in that I’ve achieved the job to the perfect of my capability, and hopefully, I’ve achieved it to an excellent stage.”

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