The Hong Kong Jockey Club and the China Horse Industry Association (CHIA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Ministry of Agriculture in Beijing on Tuesday (22 September), marking a new milestone in the cooperation between the Club and the CHIA in building a comprehensive system for the development of the horse industry in China.
“The Club is honoured to be trusted as a strategic partner of the CHIA and excited to play a supporting role in helping the CHIA achieve its objective of enhancing the horse industry’s infrastructure,” said The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges. “We were very impressed by the holistic approach taken by the new leadership of the CHIA since March 2014. Racing is a selection process for breeding. A firm foundation built on a sound stud book, doping control, and horse welfare is critical for the long-term development of the industry’s value chain, a continuous cycle from breeding through to sporting competition.”
The partnership covers the Club’s support of modernising the China Stud Book, an indispensable resource in the long-term advancement of the horse industry in the Mainland. The Club will also play a key role in developing an effective doping control programme while also supporting the planning of an equine hospital in Beijing, and assisting in ongoing horse care and veterinary training.
With more than 500 former HKJC racehorses, now retired in the Mainland, and the ongoing development of the Conghua Training Centre, enhancing veterinary standards is of great interest to the Club.
Representing the Club are Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kim Mak and Executive Director, Racing Authority, Mr. Andrew Harding. Representing CHIA are Secretary-General, Mr. Yue Gaofeng and Chairman, Mr. Jia Youling.
“This MOU exemplifies the Club’s strength and commitment to equine welfare in the Mainland, an essential aspect to the horse industry,” said Mr. Kim Mak. “We believe the HKJC-CHIA partnership is long-awaited, and will be most welcomed by the equestrian communities in China. The Club has been highly recognised by the Ministry of Agriculture and CHIA with respect to our contributions to ensure the safety and professional veterinary care for visiting horses, including the Turkmen horse given to President Xi as a state gift in 2014.”
Mr. Andrew Harding said: “Industry integrity, in the form of an internationally-engaged identification system, along with effective doping control, is a foundational necessity for the successful growth of the thoroughbred industry in China. The Club is looking forward to sharing its expertise with the CHIA in these and other areas, assisting China on the path to earn recognition from regional and international industry bodies.”
The Ministry of Agriculture also welcomes this long-term partnership. Considering the diverse horse culture in the Mainland, the development of the modern thoroughbred industry will be multi-faceted.
“The China Horse Industry Association sincerely thanks The Hong Kong Jockey Club for its support to horse industry development in China, and we do cherish this strategic partnership over the past years,” remarked Mr. Jia Youling, Chairman of the CHIA. “The modern horse industry in China started relatively late and with a comparatively weak foundation. However, there is a pressing need for the horse industry to advance towards more international integration.”
“Over its 130-year history, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has showcased its every effort to ensure absolute fairness in horse racing, provision for the best horse welfare, and safeguard the interests of horse owners and customers. These are exactly the qualities and experience which we should learn from the Club,” Mr. Jia added. “The China Horse Industry Association has been striving to build the whole horse industry chain and set the foundation of the industry. We very much look forward to a successful cooperation with The Hong Kong Jockey Club to achieve this objective.”
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class horse racing operator and Hong Kong’s largest community benefactor, as well as one of Asia’s most prestigious membership clubs. Operating as a not-for-profit organisation, the Club allocates its surplus funds for charitable and community projects. In 2014/15, its donations reached a record $3.87 billion, and in the last decade alone it supported over 1,300 projects. The Club is also Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer, contributing a record HK$20.05 billion in 2014/15. With about 70% of its revenue given back to society every year through donations and tax contributions, The Hong Kong Jockey Club delivers a significantly higher return to the community than any other racing and/or sports betting organisation in the world. As a socially responsible organisation, the Club helps Government combat illegal betting and advocates responsible gambling. The Club is also one of Hong Kong’s largest employers with over 24,000 full-time and part-time staff. Committed to global excellence and giving back to society, the Club is always “riding high together for a better future” with the people of Hong Kong.
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(From left) Mr. Cai Meng, Vice Chairman of CHIA, Dr. Christopher Riggs, Head of Veterinary Clinical Services of the HKJC, Mr. Kim Mak, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs of the HKJC, Mr. Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing Authority of the HKJC, Mr. Jia Youling, Chairman of CHIA, Professor Liu Yanshen, Senior Consultant of CHIA, Mr. Yue Gaofeng, Secretary-General of CHIA, at the MOU signing ceremony held today.
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