FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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1 #LonginesMasters #WeRideTheWorld FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE First Asia Horse Week Organized by EEM Premieres alongside 2018 Longines Masters of Hong Kong Hong Kong Jockey Club Lends Full Support as Founding Partner Hong Kong January 8, 2018 Contributing to the development of Hong Kong as the Equestrian Capital of Asia, the first-edition of the Asia Horse Week will be held February 8-11, 2018, in parallel with the 2018 Longines Masters of Hong Kong, to drive the promotion of equestrian sport in the region as well as fraternity across the industry, with full support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club as Founding Partner. Envisioned by Mr. Christophe Ameeuw and his teams at EEM, the mission of the Asia Horse Week is to inject fresh impetus into the equestrian industry in Asia by bringing together the foremost institutional, business and key players to share knowledge and eventually shape global, regional and industry agenda in what is designed to become the annual international rendezvous of the horse community in Asia, with a view to making positive change for the sport while engaging the public for its widespread appreciation. Commenting on the unique positioning of the Asia Horse Week, Mr. Ameeuw says, The Asia Horse Week is envisaged as an annual meeting point for the international equestrian community in Asia, embodying EEM s aspiration to develop equestrian sports in this fast-growing region. It serves both as a prime setting for the Longines Masters of Hong Kong and a networking platform for the equestrian world, with speakers from major European and Asian equestrian federations as well as industry experts sharing insights into various equestrian-related topics, while the public gains access to the athletic intensity and captivating lifestyle at the Longines Masters of Hong Kong, one of the prominent events on the region s social and cultural calendar.

2 With missions and visions dovetailing that of EEM, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, a world-class horse racing operator and Hong Kong s largest community benefactor aimed at promoting local equine sports while delivering high return to society, is the Founding Partner of the Asia Horse Week. In fact, Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) has good reason to be part of it equine sports have been introduced to the city for more than 130 years since it first operated horse racing meetings as spectator sports events. The HKJC runs three public riding schools which are attended by more than 50,000 people a year. Besides supporting the equestrian events of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the HKJC also established the HKJC Equestrian Team and the HKJC Junior Equestrian Training Squad to groom talented riders, among them are contenders who have vied for the coveted accolades in the Longines Masters of Hong Kong. Frédéric CASTEL for EEM With EEM, the Longines Masters of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Jockey Club and AsiaWorld-Expo as strong backbones, the Asia Horse Week is predestined to become a prominent fixture on the region s equestrian calendar, engaging all members of the global industry to cooperate and interact in the common interest of Asia s growing equestrian markets, says Dr. Simon S.O. Ip, Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

3 For the inaugural Asia Horse Week, key players and influencers of the worldwide equestrian community, including representatives from six European and eight Asian Equestrian Federations, will come together to share knowledge and present activities through conference talks on the most sought-after topics in the industry, centering on the development trends of equestrian sports in Asia, the latest equine healthcare and bio-security science, horse club management, as well as breeds, course design and craftsmanship. The speakers will be mainly from major European and Asian equestrian federations (among which for example Mrs. Lynn Petersen, Chief Executive of the British Horse Society; Dr. Breido Graf Zu Rantzau, President of the German Equestrian Federation; Mr. Gaofeng Yue, Secretary General of the China Horse Industry Association; Mr. Michael Lee, President of the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation, etc), Asian horse clubs owners and industry experts (including Mr. Christopher Riggs, Head of Veterinarian Hong Kong Jockey Club; Dr. Brian Stewart, Head of Hong Kong Jockey Club quarantine Department; Mr. Adrian Farrington, Hong Kong Jockey Club VET of the Longines Masters of Hong Kong);. 70 pop-up boutiques encompassing a wild spectrum of equestrian related and inspired businesses will be set up at the heart of the Prestige Village, with notably Longines, DBS, Maserati, Macey and Sons, Devialet, Hermes, CWD, Kingsland, Harcour, Dyon, GPA Premium, Romitelli, etc., to welcome 5,000 VIPs and 30,000 visitors from the general public. Speaking about the role and aspiration of the Asia Horse Week, Mr. Raphael Le Masne de Chermont, Chairman and Spokesman of the Asia Horse Week, says, The Asia Horse Week will bring together the key players, experts, riders and influencers from mature equestrian nations and emerging equestrian markets in Asia to bridge interests, expertise and craft business opportunities between the region and the rest of the world. Organized in tandem with the Longines Masters of Hong Kong, the Asia Horse Week will capitalize on the synergies and reinforce the attractiveness for visitors from the Asia Pacific region. The opening of the Asia Horse Week will be held on February 8, 2018 at AsiaWorld-Expo, graced by industry magnates including Dr Simon O Ip, Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr. Michael Lee, President of the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation, Dr. Hanfried Haring, President of the European Equestrian Federation; A highly ambitious project which strives to seamlessly integrate Asian equestrian culture and the commercial crossroads represented by Hong Kong, the event plans to rapidly expand in future editions.

4 Image Download View the Asia Horse Week official programme: asiahorsweek.com Asia Horse Week February 8 11, 2018 AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong Tickets available here Booking Hotline: (+852) from 10:00AM to 8:00PM For accreditation requests, ask at the event s Newsroom To follow the Longines Masters of Hong Kong, re-live all the Longines Masters of Paris events, watch the special TV content, go to EEM.TV. View the Longines Masters of Hong Kong official programme: longinesmasters.com Longines Masters of Hong Kong February 9 11, 2018 AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong Tickets available via longinesmasters.com Booking Hotline: (+852) from 10:00AM to 8:00PM For accreditation requests, ask at the event s Newsroom Press contacts: Mazarine Asia Pacific Lionel Lam Jeffrey Hung Tel: (+852) Tel: (+852) lionel.lam@mazarineap.com jeffrey.hung@mazarineap.com ###

5 ABOUT EEM A passionate of equestrian sports, Christophe Ameeuw - CEO of EEM and Founder of the Longines Masters Paris-Hong Kong-New York Series - founded the Ecuries d Ecaussinnes in Based in Belgium, the stables are internationally reputed for their activities in trading sport horses and highstandard breeding. They are also home to an offering some of the best teaching available in the field. In opening EEM, Christophe Ameeuw and his teams were in pursuit of a challenge: to reinvent show jumping by organizing equestrian events of an entirely new kind. The company built its development by creating the concept of the Masters, which together, under the same roof, the best of show-jumping, resplendent displays and art de vivre. After the successes of the Audi Masters in Brussels and the Gucci Masters in Paris, EEM came out with one of the world s most prestigious equestrian events, the Longines Masters Series, on three continents, in Paris, Hong Kong and New York. Inspired by the Grand Slam in Tennis, EEM created a concurrent Grand Slam Indoor of Show Jumping, approved by the FEI, this intercontinental challenge is offered to the world's elite in show jumping, with two prize levels: The Super Grand Slam - a 2,250,000 super bonus for the three consecutive wins in the Longines Grand Prix, in the season order - The Grand Slam - a 1,000,000 bonus for three successive victories at Longines Grand Prix straddling two Longines Masters seasons. In 2017, EEM will be creating a new iconic competition, the Riders Masters Cup. Offered to the public alongside the EEF (European Equestrian Federation) and alternating between Europe and the United States, this battle will pit the world's two leading powers in show jumping against one another: Europe and the United States. On the Asian continent, Asia Horse Week, rallying point for the international equestrian community there, also serves as a prime setting for the Longines Masters of Hong Kong, illustrating EEM's determination to develop the sport's international arms in the Asia-Pacific Region. Firmly set on putting equestrian sports front and center and making them accessible to all, EEM rolled out a new digital TV channel on November 14, EEM.tv offers viewers the chance to follow live and free of charge all EEM events worldwide. For more information, visit ABOUT THE LONGINES MASTERS Set in the three of the world's most emblematic metropolises - Paris, Hong Kong and New York - the Longines Masters series is recognized as one of the most prestigious events in the equestrian world. Created by EEM and inspired by the Tennis Grand Slam, the series quickly expanded their international reach (Hong Kong in 2013, Los Angeles in 2014). In 2015, the intercontinental trilogy turned into the Longines Masters Series. Alongside it, EEM created the Grand Slam of Indoor Show Jumping, approved by the FEI, the Grand Slam Indoor is the ultimate challenge for the world's elite in show jumping, with two levels of prizes: The Super Grand Slam: a bonus of 2.25 million Euros for winning 3 consecutive Longines Grand Prix in the same season. The Grand Slam: a bonus of 1 million Euros for three successive victories in the Longines Grand Prix from one season to the next. The TV broadcast of the Longines Masters Series reaches to over 120 countries, almost 320 million households, a coverage increased this year by the launch of EEM.tv, the new digital channel of EEM. It allows everybody to freely livestream the all competition and events during the four days. Save the date: Hong Kong 2018: February 9 th February 11 th, New-York 2018: April 26 th April 29 th For more information, see ABOUT HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB

6 The Club has been contributing to the betterment of Hong Kong for over a century, both directly and through The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. Today the Club contributes across ten areas of social need: arts, culture & heritage; education & training; elderly services; emergency & poverty relief; environmental protection; family services; medical & health; rehabilitation services; sports & recreation; and youth development. With significant improvements in its business performance in recent years, the Club has been able to substantially increase its support for the community. In 2016/17 the Charities Trust donated a record HK$7.6 billion. This included HK$4.1 billion to 215 charitable and community projects and a special donation of HK$3.5 billion to construct the Hong Kong Palace Museum in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Hong Kong SAR. The Club is one of the world s top ten charity donors. In recent years, the Club has been increasingly proactive in tackling more complex social issues. Working with the Government, NGOs, academia and business, the Charities Trust has initiated and implemented its own Trust Initiated Projects. A particular focus at present are four strategic themes Youth, the Elderly, Sports, and Arts, Culture & Heritage which have been identified as important for the future development of Hong Kong. For more information, see

7 ABOUT ASIA HORSE WEEK Alongside the 6 th edition of the Longines Masters of Hong Kong, EEM and its founding partner the Hong Kong Jockey Club launch the first edition of the Asia Horse Week, from February 8 th to 11 th 2018 in AsiaWorld-Expo. It will be the new annual meeting point for the equestrian world, reinforcing Hong Kong s ever growing equestrian influence in the region. Driven by the continuous desire to develop the industry in the Asia-Pacific region, EEM wants to establish the first concept of the annual meeting point for the international equestrian community in Asia, the Asia Horse Week, where the entire equestrian culture and all horse-related professions are represented. Also, the public will be able to enjoy the best equestrian sporting event in Asia get together and exchange views with other enthusiasts. The Asia Horse Week brings together 6 European, 8 Asian Equestrian Federation presidents & officials, some of the World Top 25 and Asia Top 5 riders, 220 accredited Media, around 70 pop boutiques with traders & buyers of the equestrian & horse industry, experts of the horse industry, horse enthusiasts, horse owners and riders, Top 10 Asian equestrian club owners and managers, VIPs who are looking to take part in a unique experience including travel, entertainment and international elite sport from the Asia Pacific Region, 30,000 visitors comprised of families, general public, as well as trade commissions, chambers of commerce, & diplomatic representatives. An array of equestrian-related talks will be held during the 4 days, including for example Experiences from The British Horse Society and the German Equestrian Federation Implementation in Asian clubs, The Equestrian status and projected development in China, Horsemanship: Well-being of horses and riders, The perspective from coaches & Riders, Health, Well- Being and Bio-security, The Dutch approach to Equestrian Top Sport. The Olympic preparations status in Japan., Breeds, Art and Craftsmanship. Set against the backdrop of the Longines Masters of Hong Kong the Asian leg of the Grand Slam of Indoor Show Jumping the Asia Horse Week will help chart new ground for the equine industry as it looks towards an every-expanding future. For more information, see