One of the oldest institutions in Hong Kong, the HKJC (Hong Kong Jockey Club) was founded in 1884 to promote horse racing. The club enjoyed royal patronage under colonial rule, and operated under the name, “The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club.” This not-for-profit organization promotes and provides horse racing, sporting and betting entertainment in Hong Kong.

It holds a government-granted monopoly in providing pari-mutuel betting on racing, lotteries, and fixed odds betting of football. Apart from being the largest taxpayer in all of Hong Kong, the HKJC is also the largest private donator of charitable funds, contributing over a billion dollars (HK) every year for the past 10. The HKJC also provides dining and recreation facilities to around 20,000 members.

When the HKJC began in 1884, it was an exclusive club for the ruling class. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there were very few Chinese members in the group. Three other top colonial clubs at the time, the Jockey Club, Victoria Recreation Club, and the Amateur Dramatic Corps, didn't have one Chinese member between them. In 1971, the club changed its status from amateur to professional. They then organized annual races which took place around the Chinese New Year.

As Hong Kong struggled with post-war reconstruction and massive immigration in the 1950s, the need for charitable structures greatly increased. HKJC improved its charitable role in 1955 by officially devoting its yearly excess to charity and various community projects.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (Charities) Ltd was formed in 1959 to administer donations. This company would later become the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust in 1993. The trust serves four principal areas of social and civic need: education and training, sports, recreation and culture, community services and medical/health.

The HKJC has a legal monopoly over betting on horse racing and also football. 6 off-course branches where the public could wager on horse races opened in 1974 at the club's Happy Valley racecourse.

As of now, over 100 betting branches exist throughout the territory which accepts bets on racing, soccer, and sell they also sell lottery tickets. The HKJC was crucial in the Hong Kong government's decision to pass the gambling Bill in 2002, hoping to combat unauthorized cross-border gambling and other promotional activities in Hong Kong. This made betting with an unauthorized bookmaker a criminal offence.

The decision to state equestrian competitions in Hong Kong was made in July, 2005. The Club's world-class international racing centre at Sha Tin will be used as the foundation for the Olympic and Paralympics venues.

Additional competition and training venues will be incorporated into existing sporting facilities at the Hong Kong Institute, the Jockey Club Beas River Country Club, and the neighboring golf course.