To promote and develop the equine industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (“GBA”), the Club signed a Framework Cooperation Agreement with the Guangzhou Municipal Government in May 2021. The Agreement provides a solid foundation for the realisation of the National Equine Industry Development Plan 2020-2025 promulgated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and General Administration of Sport in 2020.

The aim is to establish a commercially viable and sustainable system of international-standard racing in Guangzhou drawing on the Club’s international standing and world-class facilities at Conghua Racecourse (“CRC”). This in turn will strengthen CRC’s position as the anchor of the Guangzhou-Hong Kong Racing Economic Cluster and provide a strategic platform for the Mainland to showcase international racing. It will also boost the development of a fully-fledged equine value chain in the region.

The Agreement outlines three main cooperation areas for the achievement of its strategic objectives:

• Organisation of international-standard races at CRC. To be conducted under the Club’s racing rules and regulations based on international best practices. A regular racing programme will commence in the 2025/26 season.
• Upgrading of Conghua Racecourse. To develop the full potential of CRC as a centre for world-class racing, the Club will upgrade its infrastructure. This will include the construction of a new and iconic grandstand as well as additional stables, training facilities and expanded staff accommodation. The Guangzhou Municipal Government will build an additional access road to CRC to enhance its accessibility. The upgrade will also enable CRC to further support the Club’s training centre at Sha Tin as part of the Club’s dual-site model. Furthermore, it will provide more opportunities to develop world-class equine professionals in the Mainland in support of the continuing growth of equine sports in the GBA.
• Development of an equine value chain. Develop an international equine quarantine facility to enable the transportation, import and export of horses both internationally and locally. In addition, the Club will offer comprehensive training through its racing academy in support of the long-term development of racing talent. Other equine-related initiatives, such as veterinary professional development and academic collaboration; further enhancement of the cross-boundary movement and inspection of horses, forage grass and fodder, veterinary medicines and biological products etc.; exploration of the development of a horse trading centre; promotion of equestrian sports in Guangzhou etc., will also be pursued to allow a thriving equine industry to take hold in the GBA in future.