The Hong Kong Jockey Club has launched a long-term partnership with the Sports Bureau of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region to modernize and upgrade Xinjiang’s equine industry. This collaboration aims to leverage the Jockey Club’s expertise and resources alongside Xinjiang’s rich horse culture, particularly focusing on the Yili horse breed, to enhance horse breeding, training, racing, veterinary care, and horse culture tourism. The partnership supports national strategic plans and includes initiatives such as celebrating horse racing festivals, cultivating international equine talent, and improving industry standards.

Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges emphasized the Club’s commitment to promoting China’s horse culture globally by utilizing the “one country, two systems” framework and highlighted the role of the Conghua racecourse in Guangzhou as a key facility for training, veterinary care, and racing tourism. The Club has already contributed by supporting domestic horse development through assessment races for Yili horses in Xinjiang and aims to develop a robust equine industry value chain in the region and nationwide through sports, cultural, and tourism initiatives.