Hong Kong Jockey Club joins hands with Xinjiang to boost China’s equine industry
Five-year cooperation agreement aims to modernise horse sector and support rural revitalisation.
Key points:
– Partnership focuses on upgrading and internationalising Xinjiang’s horse industry
– Agreement covers talent development, veterinary standards and Ily horse competitions
– Club to leverage its global expertise in support of national rural development goals
The Hong Kong Jockey Club has signed a five-year memorandum of understanding with the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to support the development of a modern and internationally recognised horse industry in western China.
As announced by the Club on 22 July, the agreement was signed in Urumqi during a visit by CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges and his delegation.
Xinjiang is home to the largest horse population in the country and the birthplace of the native Ily breed. The region has a deep-rooted equestrian culture and has been actively implementing national and regional plans to promote integrated development in horse breeding, training, racing and tourism.
Under the partnership, the Club will support regular Ily horse competitions and introduce international technical standards. It will also provide strategic guidance to help the breed meet global biosecurity benchmarks, paving the way for future participation in high-level events such as those at the Club’s Conghua Racecourse in Guangdong.
Good to know: Ily horses are considered an important symbol of China’s traditional horse culture and the Club sees potential for the breed to represent the nation on the global stage
The agreement also includes collaborative programmes to train veterinary and industry professionals, develop equine medical and care systems, and provide academic and technical exchanges. Selected personnel from Xinjiang will receive specialised training at Club facilities.
The Club highlighted the alignment between the cooperation and China’s rural revitalisation strategy. Engelbrecht-Bresges emphasised the Club’s commitment to sharing its international network and experience to support the transformation of Xinjiang’s horse sector into a globally recognised brand.
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