China Horse Club Stages Mongolia Race Meet
Description:
The China Horse Club staged four competitive races Aug. 22 at Yiqi Race Course in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, in China—an event founder Teo Ah King described as "the fulfillment we have promised our members."
The CHC estimated attendance at the modernistic track at more than 26,000, with much of the grandstand occupied on a warm, sunny day. But the point of the exercise was to bring CHC-owned horses back to China to put on a show for the club's members. The CHC sold memberships as a "lifestyle" investment that would put wealthy Chinese into a chic horse-centric international environment rich with the opportunity for good living and networking.
The trappings of the Ordos meet lived up to the pledge. Club members were treated to a buffet in VIP suites overlooking the track and winning partnerships were invited to share in festivities after each race. Gowns and hats rivaled those on display at any top race meet around the world, and there was an after-party with fireworks display.
The CHC for the first time streamed its races live internationally.
"I think today the members are not just excited," Teo said. "I think today we have delivered the fulfillment we have promised our members."
The meet inaugurated a permanent home for the CHC, which recently signed a long-term lease with local government for the track and adjacent land slated to be used as a breeding farm. Popular support for racing, Teo said, is important in raising the profile of the sport in China and eventually convincing the central government to lend its support to measures that will foster higher-level competition.
Elliott Walden, president, chief executive officer, and racing manager of WinStar Farm in Kentucky, attended the Aug. 22 races and said he sees it as "a vision that can just explode here one day like it is in Europe or Australia or in the United States. I would love to come back. Maybe one day we can bring a WinStar-bred to win a race."
A contingent of international jockeys competed successfully against locals and the big race of the day, a full lap of the 2,000-meter sand course, went to Hales, an Australian-bred by Haradasun who was competing against horses bred in Ireland and England. The track, recovering from a severe storm early in the week, was a surprise for the riders.
After the first race, when nine horses recently imported from New Zealand seemed to struggle for footing, Australian rider Michael Cahill admitted the surface "was a little heavier than I thought at first." And winning rider Daniel Muscutt, representing Great Britain, agreed: "It helps to be on the speed."
Muscutt rode Lilly Pins, a New Zealand-bred mare by Pins. The second race, also for New Zealand imports, went to Irdy's Girl, a Paco Boy mare ridden by Cahill.
The waters got a bit deeper in the third race, a 1,200-meter affair won by Australian-bred Sturt, a bay gelding by Danehill Dancer. Local rider Qin Yong also kept that one near the front and held well through the straight to defeat a field that included American-bred and English raced Vinson Massif, a 6-year-old son of Giant's Causeway.
Russian rider Myrzabek Kappushev was up for Hales's victory in the finale. Hales scored his second win in his 13th start in China.