FOR MOST CAREER WINS
In HONG KONG RACING HISTORY
CONGRATULATIONS ZAC PURTON
Australian jockey Zac Purton has broken the record for the most winners in Hong Kong racing history. The 41-year-old had been on a relentless charge towards the long-standing mark of 1,813 wins set by legendary South African hoop Douglas Whyte, who retired from riding in 2019 and is now a leading trainer in the jurisdiction.
Hailing from Lismore in Australia, Purton's journey towards becoming one of the world's top jockeys began in his native Australia, where he quickly established himself as a rising star. He won the Brisbane Jockeys' Premiership as an apprentice in 2003 before moving to Sydney, further solidifying his reputation as a top-tier jockey.
In 2007, he made the bold decision to relocate to Hong Kong. His arrival marked the beginning of a new era in the city's racing scene.
Purton’s exceptional skill, unwavering dedication to this craft, and outstanding technique have propelled him to the forefront of global racing and he has now made racing history. Purton sat just 73 wins behind Whyte’s tally at the start of the 2024/25 season, so it was somewhat inevitable that he would breach the landmark at some point in this season. Now, he has rewritten the record books and solidified his legacy as one of the greatest jockeys of all time.
22/01/2025 22/01/2025 22/01/2025 21/01/2025 17/01/2025 15/01/2025 05/01/2025 01/01/2025 29/12/2024 27/12/2024 08/12/2024 17/11/2024 10/10/2024 08/09/2024 06/09/2024 14/07/2024 08/06/2024 07/06/2024LATEST NEWS
All-time great Zac Purton sets new Hong Kong wins record
Zac Purton stands alone as the jockey with the most wins in Hong Kong racing history after successes aboard Spirit Of Peace in the third section of the Class 4 Kowloon Park Handicap (1200m) and View Of The World in the second section of the Class 3 Victoria Park Handicap (1200m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (22 January).
Zac Purton sets new Hong Kong record with 1,814 wins Photo Release
Zac Purton has set a new Hong Kong record with 1,814 wins, surpassing Douglas Whyte’s previous mark of 1,813, after riding View Of The World in the second section of the Class 3 Victoria Park Handicap (1200m – Race 9) at Happy Valley on Wednesday, 22 January.
Photo Release – Zac Purton reaches Douglas Whyte’s Hong Kong all-time record of 1,813 wins
Zac Purton ties the Hong Kong all-time record of 1,813 wins held by Douglas Whyte at Happy Valley tonight (Wednesday, 22 January) following the victory of Spirit Of Peace. Purton and Whyte jointly ring the Victory Bell, honouring a shared legacy of achievement.
David Hayes hopeful Sight Happy can push Zac Purton to towering Hong Kong milestone
Fresh from Ka Ying Rising’s stunning triumph in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) on Sunday (19 January), David Hayes hopes Sight Happy can propel Zac Purton closer towards Hong Kong history at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (22 January).
Purton retains complete faith in Ka Ying Rising
Zac Purton is confident Ka Ying Rising’s sheer talent and versatility will enable the crack sprinter to overcome another challenging barrier in the HK$13 million G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (19 January) as history beckons for the seven-time Hong Kong champion jockey.
Zac Purton moves to within three wins of Hong Kong jockey record
Zac Purton has edged closer to the precipice of Hong Kong racing history after drawing to within three wins of matching Douglas Whyte’s record of 1,813 victories with a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (15 January).
Packing Angel shapes strongly as Zac Purton edges closer to Hong Kong record
Packing Angel has emerged as a potential Four-Year-Old Classic Series contender after the gelding’s victory in the Class 3 Broadwood Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (5 January) shunted Zac Purton to within eight wins of equalling Douglas Whyte’s Hong Kong record of 1,813 wins.
Lui eyes G1 Stewards’ Cup with Patch Of Theta, Howdeepisyourlove achieves G3 success
Francis Lui will consider a tilt at the HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) with Patch Of Theta (115lb) after the talented gelding’s emphatic HK$4.2 million G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m) triumph at Sha Tin on Wednesday (1 January).
Zac Purton reaches 1,800-win milestone with Sha Tin treble
Zac Purton became only the second jockey to ride 1,800 winners in Hong Kong with a treble at Sha Tin on Sunday (29 December) as the Australian moved to within 13 wins of Douglas Whyte’s all-time record of 1,813 wins.
Zac Purton closes in Douglas Whyte’s record with six wins at Happy Valley
Zac Purton continued a relentless quest for Hong Kong racing history with a record-equalling six-timer at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (26 December), closing to within just 16 wins of Douglas Whyte’s towering mark.
Ka Ying Rising scores first Group 1 in LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint
Ka Ying Rising continued a meteoric rise to clinch the biggest win of his career with victory in the HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (8 December).
Ka Ying Rising smashes track record to claim G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint
Ka Ying Rising’s irresistible surge towards Group 1 glory continued at Sha Tin on Sunday (17 November) when David Hayes’ emerging champion sprinter powered to victory in the G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m), breaking Sacred Kingdom’s long-standing track record.
Zac Purton chases fifth G2 Sha Tin Trophy on Beauty Eternal
Bidding for a record-extending fifth win in the HK$5.35 million G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (13 October), Zac Purton hopes Beauty Eternal’s class will prove decisive against quality opposition headed by fellow Group 1 winner Voyage Bubble and Galaxy Patch.
Ka Ying Rising sets HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup history
Purton, who finished the meeting with a quartet, said Ka Ying Rising effectively won the race with a blistering start.
Zac Purton wary of Ka Ying Rising weight challenge in season-opening feature
Preparing to resume a relentless chase of Douglas Whyte’s all-time Hong Kong record for the most wins by a jockey, Zac Purton acknowledges the daunting historical challenge facing Ka Ying Rising in the HK$3.72 million Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (8 September).
Francis Lui crowns excellent season with Hong Kong trainers’ championship victory as Purton slots six-timer
Purton was acclaimed as Hong Kong Champion Jockey for the seventh time, matching the feats of Basil Marcus and Gary Moore, after finishing the season with 130 wins and a six-timer at the season finale.
Purton slots three-timer as Copartner Prance makes it five in a row
Zac Purton’s relentless push towards a seventh Hong Kong jockeys’ championship continued at Sha Tin on Saturday (8 June) when the Australian snared a treble highlighted by a fifth successive victory on Copartner Prance in the Class 2 Lung Mun Road Handicap (1200m).
Purton upbeat about Copartner Prance as Ng, Lui vie for trainers’ title
Marching relentlessly towards a seventh Hong Kong jockeys’ championship, Zac Purton hopes Copartner Prance can enhance an impressive season with a fifth consecutive victory when Francis Lui’s sprinter tackles the Class 2 Lung Mun Road Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Saturday (8 June).
I love racing, and I’ve spent a career turning up in every minute, of every day, to create record breaking habits and etch myself into history.- Zac Purton
PURTON’S MILESTONE WINS
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09/2007
The 1st WIN
Purton nabbed his first winner in Hong Kong after romping home on Ricky Yiu’s Elfhelm. A barnstorming finish in a Class 3 contest at Happy Valley Racecourse back in September 2007 was where it all began for the Australian.
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03/2015
500th WIN
Purton’s 500th win in Hong Kong came at an All-Weather fixture aboard David Hall’s Yee Cheong Star in March 2015. He rode a treble that night, which included setting a course record aboard dirt star Gun Pit.
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08/06/2019
1,000th WIN
Purton reached a major milestone at Sha Tin Racecourse in June 2019, when he became only the second rider in Hong Kong history to reach the 1,000 wins mark when Thanks Forever breezed to an easy success in a Class 3 dash.
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24/12/2022
1,500th WIN
Purton reached 1,500 wins on the All-Weather Track at Sha Tin Racecourse in December 2022 with victory aboard Benno Yung’s Handsome Twelve. Fifteen years after riding his first Hong Kong winner, the Australian claimed a searing victory aboard the short-priced favourite.
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10/04/2024
1,700th WIN
Purton’s relentless pursuit of the Hong Kong win record breached another important mark at a Happy Valley night race meeting in April 2024 when the Australian slotted a treble to become only the second jockey to ride 1,700 winners or more in Hong Kong.
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29/12/2024
1,800th WIN
Zac Purton became only the second jockey to ride 1,800 winners in Hong Kong with a treble at Sha Tin Racecourse.
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22/01/2025
1,814th WIN
Zac Purton broke the record for the most career Hong Kong wins when he finished first on the Dennis Yip Chor-hong trained View Of The World at Happy Valley on 22/01/2025.
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