Six horses ridden by Hong Kong jockeys dash past the Winning Arch on the turf track. [Photo / HKJC]
Hong Kong Jockey Club opens its Conghua Racecourse in Guangzhou on August 28th, marking milestones for Hong Kong horse racing sport and Hong Kong-Guangdong co-operation, the club said.
Situated in Conghua District of Guangzhou, it's the first world-class racecourse and thoroughbred training center in the mainland of China.
It complements the existing training center of HKJC at Hong Kong's Sha Tin. With its advanced stabling, training and horse-care facilities, Conghua Racecourse will enable the club to further develop the quality of its world-class racing, HKJC said.
The Club celebrated this momentous occasion at an opening ceremony attended by more than 500 guests, including government officials from the Mainland and the Hong Kong SAR, Club members and horsemen, as well as partners involved in the development of the project.
"It has outstanding training and horse care facilities, including the first world-class equine hospital in the mainland. Conghua District itself has high environmental standards, with excellent air and water quality. In short, it is a superb place to train our horses," said club chairman Simon S O Ip.
The construction of the racecourse, together with the arrangements for its operation, is the product of strong and close co-operation between the Club and Central, Guangdong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong SAR authorities. Expressing his thanks, Dr Simon S O Ip said: “The establishment of Conghua Racecourse is a tremendous achievement, and the Club is truly grateful for the support it has received from Central, Guangdong and Hong Kong SAR authorities. Bureaux, departments and inspection authorities at every level have contributed.”
Essential to Conghua’s operation is its location in the Mainland’s only large-scale internationally recognised equine disease-free zone, which ensures that Hong Kong horses have the same health status in Conghua as in Hong Kong. Under a series of special arrangements agreed between authorities in the Mainland and the Hong Kong SAR, horses are able to travel freely between Conghua and Hong Kong.
Also speaking at the ceremony were Mr Chen Jianhua, Chairman of the Standing Committee of Guangzhou Municipal People’s Congress, and Professor Sophia Chan, Secretary for Food and Health of the Hong Kong SAR.
“After years of persisting efforts by relevant parties, a modern, high-tech, world-class racecourse and China’s largest world-class horse sport training center is now rising in front of us,” said Mr Chen. “The opening of Conghua Racecourse lays a solid foundation for horse industry cooperation between Guangzhou and Hong Kong, opens things up for imagination and presents a promising prospect for development.”
"HKJC is a world leader in the sport of horse racing and home to some of the world's top racehorses. Conghua Racecourse will enable us to elevate our racing to an even higher level of excellence," Ip added.
(Source: Xinhua, HKJC)
