Guangzhou will restart horse racing this year after a 27-year suspension, with regular international-standard speed races set to begin on October 31, 2026, at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Conghua Racecourse.
This marks the first time the Chinese mainland will host regular international-level thoroughbred races, and it is the first resumption of racing in Guangzhou since the activity was halted in 1999. The events will adhere to the same professional standards as those in Hong Kong, featuring world-class trainers and leading international jockeys under globally recognized racing rules and regulatory frameworks.
Organizers emphasize that the races will be demonstration events, with no betting permitted.
Opened in 2018, the venue serves as the Hong Kong Jockey Club's cross-border training base and is currently the largest and highest-standard thoroughbred training center on the mainland. The facility includes four tracks, 12 stable blocks, a veterinary hospital, and an equine swimming pool, accommodating more than 1,100 horses at a time. With a total investment of 4 billion yuan, the second phase of the Conghua Racecourse has been completed, featuring a grandstand with seating for 9,500 spectators.
Conghua District is the first Equine Disease-Free Zone in the mainland. Since regular cross-border horse transport between Guangzhou and Hong Kong began in 2018, customs authorities in Guangzhou have handled more than 40,000 horse movements. A self-developed facial recognition system for horses enables rapid identification in seconds, achieving an accuracy rate of 99 percent.
Looking ahead, Guangzhou plans to deepen cooperation with Hong Kong in the equine industry and promote the integrated development of horse racing, cultural tourism, and related sectors in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Author | Huang Xinying
Photo | Nanfang Plus
