Success in Hong Kong seldom comes easily, particularly for newcomers adjusting to one of world racing’s most demanding environments. Yet Brett Crawford has made a strong start. Up to 25 May, he had saddled 20 winners and 98 placings from 285 runners during an encouraging first season in the territory.
Crawford’s affable nature and easy-going demeanour have vindicated jockey Karis Teetan’s early prediction that he possessed the temperament required to succeed in Hong Kong. Crawford’s former South African stable jockey, a seasoned Top Five professional in the local ranks, has also played a central role in helping Brett to settle and adapt quickly to his new environment.
It was indeed Teetan that opened Crawford’s account on 28 September 2025, five meetings into the start of the Hong Kong racing season. He rode the New Zealand-bred six-year-old Speedy Smarty to a 0.50-length over 1200m on the all-weather track at Sha-Tin. Another South African Lyle Hewitson made it a Crawford double from just two runners on the day, winning a turf contest over 1600m by 2.75-lengths.
Speedy Smarty and Ninja Derby, both battling before they joined Crawford, have both won again since, and Ninja Derby was the first winner in the completion of another stable double, posted at Happy Valley on 3 December 2025.
Crawford’s biggest moment in his new home arrived on 9 November when he and Teetan combined to land the HK$4.2 million Group 3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap over 1800m with the seven-year-old Encountered, a gelding by Churchill owned by Vincent Wong Yin Shun.
“Encountered was very similar to a Jackson, with whom Karis and I won the Grade 1 Cape Derby and the Grade 1 Daily News in South Africa,” Crawford told the South China Morning Post. “He was very similar in stature and it brought back a lot of memories. Encountered was injured and has been retired, but I will always be indebted to him.”
Crawford’s operation has expanded rapidly, growing from 15 horses last September to a team of 70 spread between Sha Tin and the Conghua Training Centre, situated about 200km away on mainland China.
His South African experience, managing horses between Johannesburg and Cape Town, provided an ideal grounding for Hong Kong’s two-centre model. Now among the leading trainers for Conghua-prepared winners, Crawford makes the trip at least twice monthly.
“The facilities at Conghua are state-of-the-art,” he said. “The stables are excellent with good ventilation, while the rehabilitation and training infrastructure includes swimming pools, aqua walkers and treadmills. There is so much available to help bring out the best in each horse.”
Crawford and his partner, Gwen Macgregor, have also settled comfortably into life at Sha Tin. “We live in an apartment on the Hong Kong Jockey Club premises, only about 100 metres from the track. The humidity took some getting used to, but we’re happy as can be,” he said.
Adapting to Hong Kong racing also meant familiarising himself with the local rating system, the regular barrier trials and the rule allowing trainers only one runner per race.
However, Crawford praised the professionalism of the administration. “If you don’t get a run for a horse this week, you move onto a priority list for the following meetings. Everybody knows what’s happening and you can plan well in advance.”
While the Hong Kong Jockey Club provides assistance, trainers are still responsible for marketing themselves to attract owners and source horses. As in every racing jurisdiction, luck remains an important ingredient.
“You have to be seen as a lucky trainer or a lucky jockey because, otherwise, you’re up against it.”
Crawford said that racing is fast, tough and competitive, with no false rail on the tracks and lots of hard-luck stories. Horses fall back on others, which leaves them no room to get a run sometimes.
“But we enjoy competition, that’s what it’s all about The good thing is that the Jockey Club helps trainers with administrative issues and financial management of patrons’ bills. On top of that we draw tack, feed and other supplies from a central store. This gives us more time to focus on training our horses, the job we came here to do.”
Crawford applied for a licence in Hong Kong before the outbreak of Covid-19 and said: “I’ve always been interested to train here. Back then, they politely dismissed my application and said they’d consider me for the future. I thought nothing would come of it, but I got the job in 2025.”
He concluded: “In looking back, the offer came at the right moment and I accepted it. The time was right for my son James to step up, and he has done very well. It was the right decision for both of us.”
Featured image: Brett Crawford and Karis Teetan. (hkjc.com)