The Hong Kong Jockey Club, in collaboration with the Conghua District Government, staged an Exhibition Raceday at Conghua Racecourse today (23 March 2019).

The first time Hong Kong horses have raced competitively in the Mainland, it was a historic day for Hong Kong racing. With five races featuring horses ridden by some of the world’s best jockeys and trained by some of its leading trainers, it was both a showcase for the high standard of Hong Kong racing and of Conghua Racecourse’s contribution to the tourism development of Conghua District.

The event also highlighted the potential of Conghua Racecourse to contribute to the development of an equine industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, building on the success of Conghua’s equine disease-free zone and the co-operation between Mainland and Hong Kong SAR authorities in establishing arrangements for the cross-boundary transportation of horses between Hong Kong and Conghua.

Senior officials from the Central Government, Guangdong Provincial Government, Hong Kong SAR Government and Guangzhou Municipal Government were in attendance. In all some 1,700 Mainland residents witnessed this historic occasion.

“Conghua Racecourse – and today’s Exhibition Raceday - owe their success to the strong and close ties between Hong Kong and Guangdong and the excellent co-operation between authorities at every level,” said Club Chairman Dr Anthony W K Chow at the opening ceremony.

“With its world-class facilities, internationally recognised equine disease-free zone, and highly skilled workforce, Conghua Racecourse is ideally positioned to support the development of a world-class equine industry – bringing both employment and economic development to the Greater Bay Area. Indeed, given its location in the superb natural surroundings of Conghua District, we believe it can do a great deal to promote Conghua as a national and international tourist destination,” said Dr Chow.

In her remarks, Chief Executive of the HKSAR Mrs Carrie Lam hailed Conghua Racecourse as being a successful example of co-operation in developing the Greater Bay Area.

“Working cooperatively, employing our respective strengths, we have created an excellent model for what can be accomplished with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development,” said Mrs Lam. “Thanks to the equine disease-free zone’s successful creation, together with the joint efforts of many parties, the Hong Kong Jockey Club has transformed the Asian Games equestrian venue into today’s Conghua Racecourse – the first thoroughbred training centre and racecourse in the Mainland to reach the highest international standards. Since the Racecourse’s official opening last August, the Hong Kong Jockey Club has implemented the groundbreaking ‘one approval, multiple entry and exit’ cross-boundary horse inspection and transport arrangement.”

Mrs Lam noted that the majority of Conghua Racecourse employees are from the Mainland, with training provided by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. This, she said, will ensure the development of world-class, equine-related professionals in the Mainland and the continuing growth of equine sport in the country in the long run. She said the HKSAR Government will continue to strengthen cooperation with the Mainland to ensure the smooth operation of the Conghua equine disease-free zone and enable Conghua Racecourse to contribute to the development of equine sport and related industries in the Greater Bay Area.

“Today’s Exhibition Raceday was the result of a great deal of planning and hard work to ensure it was run according to the same high standards of integrity, safety and animal welfare as in Hong Kong. We hope this will provide a benchmark for future horse racing competitions in the Mainland. My sincere thanks to Mainland and HKSAR authorities, to horse owners and trainers, and to the Club’s employees for a magnificent team effort,” said Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.

In preparation for the Exhibition Raceday, the Club co-ordinated closely with the Conghua District Government. Being the first event of its kind in the Mainland, considerable effort was put into ensuring that it was held in compliance with the laws and regulations of the Mainland as well as with the biosecurity requirements of Conghua Racecourse. The Club thanks the Central Government, the Guangdong Provincial Government, the Guangzhou Municipal Government, the HKSAR Government and the Conghua District Government for their support.

Conghua Racecourse is situated in the Conghua District of Guangzhou in Guangdong Province. A state-of-the-art training facility, it operates as part of a dual-site model integrated with Sha Tin Racecourse, with Sha Tin remaining the main centre of training for Hong Kong racehorses.

Since its official opening in August 2018, Conghua Racecourse has been operating smoothly with the support of relevant government departments in Hong Kong and the Mainland, as well as horse owners, trainers and jockeys. Feedback from trainers has been very positive. Horses which have benefited from Conghua Racecourse facilities have achieved creditable results.

The Club is a long-standing supporter of equine sport in the Mainland. Since 1984, the Club has donated more than 1,000 retired racehorses to sports teams in different provinces and cities. The Club was honoured as “Outstanding Contributor” for constructing the equestrian venues of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games. The Club also funded the construction of the Guangdong Huangcun Sports Training Centre equestrian arena.