China’s Jockey Club and its HK$3.7 billion facility in Conghua could be central figures in the Chinese government’s plans to establish a regulated horse racing industry in the country.
The Chinese government recently published a five-year plan titled the “National Equine Industry Development Plan (2020-2025),” according to Asia Newsday.
Elements of the plan include:
- formulating a plan for the establishment of nationwide standards and development of horse racing sports.
- designing a class rating system on par with international standards;
- enhancing racing integrity with stricter doping control, higher qualifications for racing professionals;
- developing a system for horse welfare on par with international standards
- facilitating the implementation of a pilot system for horse racing on the basis of the existing sports lottery system in China.
The plan also includes initiatives and targets for different regions, which cover breeding practices, horse population, veterinary and health standards, disease control, horse training, competitions and events, the development of fitness and leisure facilities and cultural tourism, according to Asia Newsday.
The fact China has reaffirmed the value of having a thriving equine industry and is committed to restructuring and upgrading it can only be a good thing, according to Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.
And the world-class facility at Conghua, which opened in 2018, would be an obvious place to start.
“They have outlined four regions when it comes to horse racing and with our development in Guangdong, it’s natural that we would be a key partner,” Jockey Club Chief Executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges told local media. “It will only help the development of the sport. “At the moment we are a cooperation partner of the China Sports Lottery so from this, it seems we are in a good position, but one should not expect there will be horse racing with betting [in China] in the next two or three years. It is a general direction and everyone has to work to the plan.”
Betting on racing has been banned in China since 1949, but the Jockey Club hosted one showcase meeting at Conghua in March 2019 and there have been other exhibition cards at different times.
