Australian thoroughbred auctioneer company William Inglis and Son Limited (Inglis) have announced a ¥1,000,000 thoroughbred race in China to reward their existing clients and foster further growth in the country's fledgling horse racing industry.
The inaugural ¥1,000,000 Inglis China-Australia Cup will be run at Yulong Racecourse in Shanxi Province in September 2016 as part of the China Horse Racing Grand Prix circuit, which also includes meetings in Chengdu and Wuhan.
The Inglis China-Australia Cup forms part of Inglis’ program to support horse racing in China, which includes sponsorship of the China Equine Cultural Festival (CECF) in Wuhan this weekend.
"There are over 150 thoroughbreds sold through an Inglis currently in China and with growing awareness of Australian racehorses competing on the China Horse Racing Grand Prix circuit, Inglis decided the time was right to bolster our involvement.
“The recent announcement of a strategic partnership between the Hong Kong Jockey Club and the China Equestrian Association is great boost for the integrity of horse racing in China and we look forward to the inaugural running of the one million yuan Inglis China-Australia Cup in September 2016," said Mark Webster of Inglis.
Mr Zhang Yuesheng, owner of Yulong Racecourse, is thrilled to host the Inglis China-Australia Cup and improve the internationalisation and professionalism of the China horse racing industry.
“The innovative action we have taken today will definitely be a milestone in the development of thoroughbred racing in China, creating a new chapter for communication and exchanging of bloodstock business between Australia and China,” said Mr Zhang.