S’Manga Khumalo. Travels East this weekend
South Africa will be represented at the inaugural racemeeting of the China Horse Club at Hohhot, Inner Mongolia this Saturday. The 2013 China Equine Cultural Event will be held from 8 to 21 September.
Well known Bloodstock specialist Robin Bruss is attending, together with SA Jockey Association Chairman Tex Lerena, and top South African jockeys S’manga Khumalo, Gavin Lerena and Kevin Shea.
A gala dinner will be held on Friday evening as part of the official opening, with the invitational race meeting being held on Saturday. There is an international symposium scheduled for Sunday with leading guest speakers.
The racecourse, which has a sand track simliar to that of the Vaal, was developed by a partnership between Beijing Agribusiness Development and Tak Group, who are a firm of architects who were instrumental in designing the iconic Meydan Raceourse development in Dubai.
The Saturday meeting is an eight race non betting exhibition programme, offering the richest prize money in Mainland China.
International racing standards will be maintained under the supervision of Stewards from the Irish Turf Club, France Galop and the Singapore Turf Club.
It is anticipated that more than 100 million euros worth of thoroughbred racehorses will be imported into China in the next decade to fastrack the development of the region’s emerging thoroughbred industry. This will make it one of the largest importing nations on earth.
Kevin Shea. The veteran travels to ride in China this weekend
Major players said to be supporting the venture include Maine Chance Farms’ Andreas Jacobs, the Aga Khan, leading trainer Gai Waterhouse and John Warren (HRH’s racing manager).
A strategic partnership with Coolmore is also planned, and the intention is to roll out a 1000 mare breeding farm next to the track.
The China Horse Club intends to have an international racing team, on the lines of Godolphin, which would have representation in Paris, Dubai, Sydney and Singapore.
Plans are also afoot to build a racing stable amongst members, and membership of the China Horse Club is expected to number over 1000.
